Another young man has died on our roads. His life ended in a fiery road crash burnt in a car that may have been one of the best in the country. The vehicle likely had advanced safety features. He was not driving on a rough or damaged road. The road was smooth. So how could such a terrible thing happen?
People are quick to blame the driver: “He was speeding,” “He was tired,” or “He made a mistake.” Maybe that’s true. But here is the real question—did he deserve to die for making a mistake?
The answer is NO.
Modern road safety is not just about blaming drivers. It’s about accepting that people make mistakes and building roads that forgive those mistakes. Roads should be designed in a way that prevents a small error from becoming a death sentence. That’s what Uganda’s road system has failed to do.
Concrete barriers on fast roads are dangerous. In this case, they caused a fatal crash. The young man’s car hit these barriers and caught fire. There were no warning signs. No lighting. No reflective plastic barriers that could have saved him. That’s the government’s job to remove road hazards and protect citizens.
In fact, since 2019, the Ministry of Finance has released about UGX 100 billion for road safety. That money should have been used to prevent crashes like this one. But much of it has been spent on activities that have little or no impact. The truth has been shared with government bodies like the IGG, the Auditor General, and the Police, but the problem continues.
Many roads in Uganda are designed to allow high speed but are not safe for drivers, pedestrians, or boda-boda riders. There are no speed control measures, no lights, and no proper road signs—even on busy city expressways. This makes the roads deadly.
One clear example is the Kampala-Masaka road in Lwera. Concrete barriers are in place, but in many areas, there is nothing to stop a car from falling into the swamp. Not even a rope. Contractors build roads and walk away, without care for safety. Who is responsible for this? The government.
Until Uganda’s leaders admit that road crashes are not accidents but are caused by poor planning, design, and corruption—nothing will change. Parliament must demand answers. The people of Uganda must demand accountability.
This is not just about one young man. It could be any of us tomorrow.
Let’s stop pretending. Let’s stop the lies. Let’s stop paying lip service while families continue to bury loved ones because of greed, laziness, and lack of care.
The carnage must end.
