Standfirst: Assessments conducted under the CommitToAct 2026 Mobility Snapshot campaign show that targeted infrastructure upgrades at intersections such as Kitgum House could significantly improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Kampala, Uganda: Road safety organisations have called for targeted improvements at busy intersections in Kampala after assessments under the CommitToAct 2026 Mobility Snapshot campaign identified significant gaps in infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.
Representatives from the Uganda Road Accident Reduction Network Organisation (URRENO), Safe Transport and Survivors Support Uganda (STASSU) and Legacy Road Safety Initiative (LRSI) presented the findings to officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport, seeking to translate the evidence into practical decisions on road design, rehabilitation and future infrastructure investment.
The engagement focused on the safety of people who walk and cycle through Kampala’s busy intersections, with participants reviewing both improvements recorded since earlier assessments and gaps that continue to expose road users to risk.
Several intersections previously assessed in 2024 were found to have benefited from improvements, including signalised pedestrian crossings, junction upgrades and better road layouts.
However, the organisations noted that important challenges remain, including inadequate signage, incomplete walkways, limited cycling infrastructure, pedestrian compliance challenges and the need for stronger enforcement of traffic regulations.
Under the latest Mobility Snapshot assessments, LRSI assessed the Rashid Khamis Road and Kyaggwe Road intersection, STASSU assessed the Spear Motors intersection around Nakawa, while URRENO assessed Kitgum House Intersection in Kampala.
The Kitgum House assessment provided a particularly strong case for targeted intervention. According to the assessment, the junction carries about 30,000 vehicles daily, while between 201 and 300 pedestrians were recorded crossing during the peak hour. The assessment recorded between one and five cyclists during the same period.
The speed limit at the intersection was recorded at 30km/h, but despite the significant pedestrian movement, the existing pedestrian Star Rating stood at just one star.
According to the Global Alliance assessment, implementing the recommended priority countermeasures could raise the pedestrian rating to about 3.7 stars, while applying the full package could increase it to approximately 4.6 stars.
The assessment estimates that the interventions could reduce pedestrian risk of death and serious injury by approximately 96.6 percent under the priority package and 98.6 percent under the full package.
Cyclists were similarly found to face significant safety risks, with the existing rating standing at 1.5 stars. The assessment projects that the rating could rise to 4.9 stars with the priority measures and 5.7 stars with the full countermeasure package.
The estimated reduction in cyclist risk of death and serious injury stands at approximately 97.4 percent under the priority package and 99.3 percent under the full package.
The proposed interventions include signalised crossings on the main and side roads, footpaths on both sides of the road and a shared-use bicycle lane.
The priority package has an estimated cost of US$70,500, while the full package, which includes additional intersection delineation and signing as well as a paved road surface, is estimated at US$81,500.
The organisations said the proposed measures would provide pedestrians with clearer and more controlled crossing points, create continuous space for walking, improve facilities for cyclists and make intersections easier for all road users to navigate.
During the engagement, Eng. Kasenene Sunday of the Ministry of Works and Transport said plans were already being developed for future upgrades at some of the intersections discussed.
He said baseline work had been undertaken during 2024 and 2025 and that some of the locations were already within planning processes for future rehabilitation and improvement.
Kasenene also urged the organisations to strengthen road safety sensitisation, noting that road-user behaviour and violations of traffic regulations can contribute to crashes.
The discussion therefore highlighted the need for infrastructure, enforcement and behaviour change to work together.
Kasenene encouraged the organisations to formally submit their recommendations to the Ministry of Works and Transport so that the findings can be considered as future projects and rehabilitation plans are developed or refined.
Mr Kamoga Michael, also from the Ministry of Works and Transport, encouraged continued engagement between the ministry, KCCA and other relevant stakeholders.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that findings from assessments such as the Mobility Snapshot reach institutions responsible for planning, constructing, rehabilitating and managing road infrastructure.
The meeting ended with a commitment to strengthen collaboration and information sharing between the ministry and the participating civil society organisations.
For the CommitToAct 2026 campaign, the organisations said the engagement represents an effort to move from collecting road safety evidence to advocacy and practical improvements.
The organisations are expected to continue following up on the recommendations, particularly those relating to Kitgum House Intersection, while monitoring progress and conducting public sensitisation on pedestrian and cyclist safety.
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