KAMPALA, Uganda: The Uganda Road Accident Reduction Network Organisation (URRENO) has conducted a fresh road safety re-assessment exercise at the intersection of Burton Street and Kampala Road in Kampala as part of ongoing efforts to improve urban mobility and reduce road accidents in the city.
The exercise, carried out on Tuesday, May 26, sought to evaluate the progress made following earlier road safety assessments and community engagement activities previously conducted at the junction.
According to URRENO officials, the re-assessment focused on examining the effectiveness of newly implemented infrastructure improvements, particularly in relation to pedestrian movement, cyclist safety, traffic organization and accessibility for all categories of road users.
During the exercise, the team engaged pedestrians, boda boda riders, business operators and other community members around the area to collect firsthand feedback regarding the impact of the renovated intersection on daily movement and safety.
Road users shared experiences on improvements that have eased mobility within the city centre while also identifying persistent challenges that still require intervention from city authorities and relevant stakeholders.
URRENO noted that such community-centred engagements remain critical in ensuring that road infrastructure projects reflect the practical needs and safety concerns of ordinary road users.
The organisation further extended the assessment exercise to Kitgum House Junction, another busy intersection within Kampala’s central business district.
At Kitgum House Junction, the team examined pedestrian infrastructure, traffic flow management, crossing facilities, accessibility for vulnerable road users, cycling infrastructure, signage and overall intersection safety standards.
Officials said the findings from both assessments will contribute towards future advocacy engagements with government agencies, Kampala Capital City Authority and other stakeholders responsible for urban transport planning and road safety implementation.
The assessments are being conducted under the global #CommitToAct Campaign, a road safety initiative funded by the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety in partnership with TotalEnergies.
The campaign promotes safer walking and cycling, stronger community participation in road safety planning and sustainable urban mobility systems that prioritize pedestrians and cyclists.
URRENO emphasized that as Kampala continues to rapidly urbanize, collaboration between civil society organizations, communities and government institutions remains vital in building safer and more inclusive streets.
Road safety advocates have repeatedly called for more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure in Kampala, citing rising traffic congestion, unsafe crossings and increasing risks faced by pedestrians, cyclists and boda boda riders in the city.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, Uganda recorded 26,044 road crashes in 2025, up from 25,107 crashes registered in 2024. Out of these, 4,602 were fatal crashes, while 13,563 were classified as serious and 7,879 as minor crashes. The crashes resulted in 5,383 deaths and thousands of injuries countrywide, translating to an average of about 15 deaths every day on Ugandan roads.
The report further shows that vulnerable road users remained the most affected category, with pedestrians, motorcyclists and their passengers accounting for the highest number of fatalities. Motorcycle riders and passengers alone contributed nearly 47 percent of all road crash deaths recorded in 2024, a trend police say continued into 2025.
Traffic Police identified reckless driving, speeding, dangerous overtaking, careless motorcycle riding and indiscipline among road users as the leading causes of road carnage in Uganda. Other major contributors included poor road usage behavior, inadequate pedestrian infrastructure, driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to observe traffic regulations.
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