The Director of Traffic Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Lawrence Nuwabiine, has announced plans to collaborate with the judiciary in setting up specialized traffic magistrate courts. According to Nuwabiine, many traffic violators have become accustomed to paying fines, which has reduced their effectiveness as a deterrent.
His remarks follow the release of the 2024 traffic report, which highlighted an alarming increase in road fatalities. The report indicated that 5,144 Ugandans lost their lives in traffic accidents in 2024—an average of 14 deaths per day. This was a rise from the 4,806 deaths recorded in 2023, which averaged 13 fatalities daily.
A significant number of these accidents occurred between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., with 894 people losing their lives during this period. Speaking at Naguru Police Headquarters, Nuwabiine attributed the escalating road fatalities to reckless driving, emphasizing that issuing daily fines has not been effective in curbing road indiscipline.
“The roads themselves provide warning signs, guiding drivers to slow down in certain areas, especially near schools or where animals frequently cross. Unfortunately, many motorists disregard these signals,” he noted.
Nuwabiine questioned whether current road safety education programs in schools were sufficient, despite the police’s continued efforts to raise awareness through various media channels. As part of a broader strategy, he revealed that traffic police are in discussions with the judiciary to assign specific magistrates to handle traffic offenses, with the aim of introducing custodial sentences for persistent offenders.
“We have initiated talks with the judiciary to allocate a magistrate dedicated to traffic cases. This will enable us to impose stricter penalties, including jail terms, for those who refuse to change their reckless behavior,” he explained.
The traffic report also showed that road accidents were more frequent on weekends. A total of 3,970 crashes occurred on Sundays, followed closely by 3,765 incidents on Saturdays. Mondays also recorded a high number of accidents, with 3,689 crashes reported.
Police further linked the increase in road accidents to widespread alcohol consumption, particularly on weekends when law enforcement presence is lower. “In this country, alcohol and other intoxicating substances are easily accessible, sometimes for as little as 500 shillings. This poses a serious risk, especially among young people, who account for most of the accidents. We must find a solution to prevent the needless loss of lives on Ugandan roads,” Nuwabiine warned.
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