Uganda faces an alarming rate of road accidents, resulting in serious injury and disability to survivors.

Many victims struggle to access care or support, leaving them financially and emotionally drained.

According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) data, Mbale district has one of the highest road accident rates in the country, with the Tororo-Mbale highway cited as a deadly hotspot.

In 2023 alone, the district saw more than 400 serious accidents, resulting in 120 deaths and leaving many survivors with life-changing injuries.

Mr Rogers Taitika, Elgon Regional Police Spokesperson, said many people are injured in road accidents.

“Every day, our officers respond to numerous traffic accidents, many of which result in serious injury and death,” he said.

Mr Taitika added: “The resources available to help survivors are limited. All we can do is take them to government hospitals for treatment and, if they die, to the morgue while we find their relatives.”

Family members of survivors often bear the emotional and financial burdens of road accidents without assistance from the authorities.

Mr. Joel Wangisi, a 44-year-old businessman from Mbale town, is one such survivor whose life was drastically altered after an accident on the Mbale-Soroti road in 2022.

“It left me in a wheelchair with a bleak future,” Wangisi said, adding that he received little medical support from the hospital where he was admitted.

Mr Samuel Kintu, chairman of the Mooni Cell in Mbale town, said victims most often need prosthetics, rehabilitation services and emotional support, which are lacking in overburdened public health facilities.

“Government must equip public facilities to meet the needs of road accident survivors,” he said.

Mr Moses Otieno, a traffic officer on the Mbale-Lwakhakha road, said the number of accidents in Uganda is alarming and many survivors are left without support.

“There is a need to provide physical aid and also help survivors reintegrate into society,” he said.

Road safety remains a significant concern in Mbale and Uganda in general, with poor infrastructure, lax enforcement of traffic laws and reckless driving contributing to many accidents.

While the government has made efforts to raise awareness through campaigns such as the Stay Alive initiative, enforcement remains weak and many drivers continue to flout traffic rules.

“Every day, we lose our lives to preventable road accidents. It’s not just about creating awareness; we need stricter enforcement and more investment in road infrastructure to reduce the number of accidents,” Mr Otieno said.

Uganda Traffic Police statistics reveal over 20,000 road accidents annually, with 5,000 deaths. Many survivors are left with permanent disabilities.

Mrs. Agnes Nafuna, a teacher by profession, emphasized the need for policies to ensure road accident survivors access to medical assistance and employment opportunities. “Survivors should not become forgotten members of society. They need physical therapy, counseling and social reintegration,” she said.

Dr John Mugabi, a specialist at Mbale General Hospital, said many survivors do not have access to prosthetics or rehabilitation services.

“The public health system is outdated and cannot meet the demand,” he explained.

Ms Asumin Nasike, the resident city commissioner of Mbale, said the increasing number of road accident cases was due to the public’s increased disregard for traffic rules.

“Most accidents happen late at night when traffic officers are out on the road. Right now, riders and drivers tend to speed and drive recklessly because they know no one is monitoring,” she said.

Ms Nasike said the city council should fix traffic lights to improve traffic flow and road safety.

“These areas, particularly where traffic lights are flashing on and off, contribute significantly to the problem,” she said.

Mr Johnson Gimuyi, a senior city engineer, said plans are underway to address critical areas that require road infrastructure improvements in Mbale.

“We are improving traffic management in Mbale. We have designated different roads to allow light and heavy traffic, allowing a smoother flow of vehicles,” he said.

Mr Gimuyi added that they are also focusing on improving the road network in rural communities and running educational programs to increase awareness of traffic laws among residents.

Ms Binta Sako, the World Health Organization (WHO) technical officer at the Regional Office for Africa, said pedestrians had consistently been among the most vulnerable road users in previous reports.

“In Africa, more pedestrians die on the streets than in vehicles. About 80% of the African population relies on walking as their primary means of transportation; there is an urgent need to ensure their safety in view of the increasing trend of road deaths,” said Ms Sako during the launch of the WHO report on road safety in the Africa Region in Nairobi, Kenya in July.

She attributed the high road fatality rates to a lack of policies to protect pedestrians, poor road designs and insufficient regulations.

Ms. Chiara Retis, WHO Africa Team Leader for Violence and Injury Prevention, emphasized the need for African countries to improve post-accident care and victim rescue efforts.

She also stressed the importance of encouraging drivers to use seat belts and helmets to help reduce deaths across the continent.

The WHO report on road safety in the Africa Region highlights an alarming road safety situation in Africa, with a fatality rate of 19.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Since 2010, deaths have increased by 17%, from 192,682 to 225,482 deaths.

Ms Sarah Nambozo, the director of HopeAhead, a non-governmental organization involved in the rehabilitation of accident victims, said there was a need for stronger policies in the country to address road safety.

“Road accidents leave survivors with visible and invisible scars. We need a system to support them,” she said.

Road accident statistics

Uganda Traffic Police statistics reveal over 20,000 road accidents annually, with 5,000 deaths. In 2023 alone, Mbale District recorded over 400 serious accidents, resulting in 120 deaths and leaving many survivors with life-changing injuries.