Two Children Die Daily on Uganda’s Roads as ITMS, KCCA Move to Protect Schoolchildren

With schools set to reopen for the third and final term of the 2026 academic year, authorities and road safety stakeholders have stepped up efforts to prevent children from becoming victims of road crashes. The Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), together with the Uganda Police Force, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the Ministry of Works and Transport, has launched a campaign targeting dangerous areas around schools.

The campaign was launched at Peekaboo Primary School in Naguru, where a pedestrian lane was painted to give pupils a clearly defined crossing point. The intervention is part of the “Safer Kids, Safer Roads, Safer Journeys” campaign, which seeks to make school routes safer as thousands of children resume their daily journeys to and from school.
The partners say the newly marked crossing is intended to do more than improve the appearance of the road. It is designed to make children more visible to motorists and encourage drivers to reduce their speed and give pedestrians the right of way, especially during the morning and afternoon rush when schoolchildren are most exposed to traffic.

The intervention comes against the backdrop of a worrying road safety situation in Uganda. Figures contained in the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025 show that 5,383 people were killed in road traffic crashes last year, compared with 5,144 deaths in 2024. The number of people who suffered serious injuries also climbed from 17,013 to 18,444.
Kampala continues to experience a significant share of the country’s road safety burden. KCCA recorded about 407 road crash deaths in the city in 2025, while Police statistics indicate that two school-going children aged between six and 15 die in road accidents every day. The figures have increased calls for stronger protection measures around schools.

ITMS Public Relations Manager Steven Turayarugayo said road safety must be approached as a collective responsibility involving government agencies, communities and individual road users. He highlighted the importance of road markings and signs, alongside technology such as the Express Penalty System (EPS), in addressing dangerous driving practices and improving compliance.
Turayarugayo also highlighted a proposed measure under the Express Penalty System that would introduce a 30km/h speed limit in school zones. The proposal is awaiting government approval and is expected to provide additional protection for children by limiting vehicle speeds in areas where pupils frequently cross and walk along roads.

Uganda Police spokesperson Michael Kananura urged motorists to exercise extra care around schools, noting that children may struggle to correctly judge the speed or distance of approaching vehicles. KCCA Road Safety Coordinator Jemima Nalumansi welcomed the partnership and stressed the importance of pedestrian infrastructure, while Peek Aboo Pre-school administrator Barbra Nalweyiso thanked ITMS for the intervention. As the new term begins, the partners are calling on motorists, parents, teachers and all road users to slow down, remain alert and ensure that children can travel to school and return home safely.