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 road safety activity aimed at protecting school-going children as schools prepare to reopen for the third and final term of the 2026 academic year.
The activity was held at Peekaboo Primary School in Naguru, where a pedestrian lane was painted to provide children with a clearly marked and more visible crossing point. The initiative is being carried out under the campaign theme, “Safer Kids, Safer Roads, Safer Journeys.”
The partners said the initiative is intended to remind motorists, parents, teachers, pupils and other road users about the need to protect children, who are among the most vulnerable people on the roads. The marked crossing is expected to encourage motorists to slow down and give priority to pedestrians, especially during the busy morning and afternoon hours when children are travelling to and from school.
Uganda continues to face a serious road safety challenge. According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025, 5,383 people died in road traffic crashes in 2025, compared to 5,144 deaths in 2024, representing a 4.7 percent increase. Serious injuries also rose from 17,013 in 2024 to 18,444 in 2025.
Kampala has also been heavily affected by road crashes. The KCCA road safety report for 2025 indicates that about 407 people died in road crashes in the city. Police statistics further indicate that two school-going children aged between six and 15 die every day in road accidents, highlighting the urgent need for stronger measures around schools.
ITMS Public Relations Manager Steven Turayarugayo said road safety requires joint efforts from government institutions, communities and other stakeholders. He said road signs and markings, supported by technology such as the Express Penalty System (EPS), should lead to practical interventions that make daily journeys safer.
Turayarugayo also pointed to a proposed law under the Express Penalty System that would introduce a 30km/h speed limit around school zones. The proposal is awaiting government approval and is expected to strengthen efforts to control speeding around schools.
The Uganda Police Force, through the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, also urged motorists to exercise extra caution around schools. Police spokesperson Michael Kananura said children may not always be able to accurately judge the speed or distance of approaching vehicles, making them particularly vulnerable to crashes.
Kananura called on motorists to slow down, remain alert and respect pedestrian crossings. He stressed that road safety should not be left to the Police alone, saying every road user has a responsibility to prevent crashes and save lives.
KCCA Road Safety Coordinator Jemima Nalumansi said the authority has identified pedestrian infrastructure, including walkways and marked crossings, as an important part of improving road safety in Kampala. She welcomed the partnership with ITMS, saying safer roads require cooperation between government institutions, schools, parents, communities, motorists and development partners.
Barbra Nalweyiso, administrator at Peek Aboo Pre-school, welcomed the intervention and thanked ITMS for identifying the school as a dangerous road spot. She said the new pedestrian lane gives the school community greater confidence that motorists will be encouraged to slow down and give way to children crossing the road.
As schools reopen, the partners are calling on all motorists to remain especially careful around school zones. They said painting a pedestrian lane is not simply a road-marking exercise, but a visible reminder that children deserve safe spaces to walk, learn and return home every day.
