By Robert Segawa
The Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), in partnership with the Uganda Police Force, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the Ministry of Works and Transport, has stepped up efforts to improve road safety around schools ahead of the reopening of the third and final term of the 2026 academic year.
The partners are undertaking a road safety activity at Peekaboo Primary School in Naguru, including painting a pedestrian crossing lane, under the campaign theme “Safer Kids, Safer Roads, Safer Journeys.”
The initiative is aimed at creating safer road environments for school-going children while raising awareness among pupils, parents, teachers, motorists and the wider community about the need to protect vulnerable road users.
The marked pedestrian lane is expected to provide children with a clearly defined and more visible crossing point while reminding motorists to slow down and give priority to pedestrians around school zones.
The intervention comes amid growing concerns over Uganda’s road safety situation.
According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025, the country recorded 5,383 road traffic deaths in 2025, up from 5,144 deaths in 2024, representing a 4.7 per cent increase. Serious injuries also rose from 17,013 in 2024 to 18,444 during the same period.
Kampala has also continued to experience significant road safety challenges. The KCCA road safety report for 2025 indicates that approximately 407 people died in road crashes in the city.
Police road safety statistics further indicate that two school-going children aged between six and 15 years die every day in road accidents, highlighting the vulnerability of children as they travel to and from school.
Authorities have continued to identify risky road-user behaviour, including speeding, reckless overtaking and failure to comply with traffic regulations, among the major factors contributing to road crashes.
Against this background, the partners say protecting children requires more than enforcement, calling for a combination of safer infrastructure, responsible road-user behaviour, public awareness and coordinated action among government institutions, schools and communities.
ITMS said a proposed law on the Express Penalty System (EPS) provides for a 30km/h speed limit around school zones, which is expected to take effect pending government approval.
Steven Turayarugayo, ITMS Public Relations Manager, said the organisation was committed to working with government and other stakeholders to translate road safety measures into practical interventions.
“We are proud to work alongside government and community partners because safer roads require collective responsibility, and road signage and marking complemented by EPS technology must translate into practical interventions that make everyday journeys safer,” Turayarugayo said.
The Uganda Police Force, through the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, also urged motorists to exercise greater caution as schools reopen and the number of children using roads increases.
Michael Kananura said children are particularly vulnerable because they may not always accurately judge the speed or distance of approaching vehicles.
“Children are among the most vulnerable road users because they may not always be able to accurately judge the speed or distance of an approaching vehicle. Our statistics show that two school-going children between the ages of six and 15 years die every day in road accidents,” Kananura said.
He urged motorists to slow down and remain alert when approaching school zones.
“Motorists must therefore take extra care around schools, slow down, remain alert and respect pedestrian crossings. Road safety is not only the responsibility of the Police; every road user has a role to play in preventing crashes and saving lives,” he added.
Jemima Nalumansi, the KCCA road safety coordinator, said the authority had identified pedestrian infrastructure, including walkways and marked crossings, as an important part of its efforts to address road safety challenges in Kampala.
“Providing and maintaining visible pedestrian crossings, walkways and other road safety infrastructure is critical to protecting vulnerable road users. We welcome partnerships such as this with ITMS because improving road safety requires all of us to work together, government institutions, communities, schools, parents, motorists and development partners,” Nalumansi said.
The partners said the campaign is particularly timely because the reopening of schools is expected to increase the movement of children and other vulnerable road users along neighbourhood roads, especially during morning and afternoon peak hours.
Barbra Nalweyiso, administrator at Peekaboo Pre-school, welcomed the intervention, saying the school had been identified as one of the road safety “dark spots” where motorists often fail to slow down or give way to pedestrians.
“We welcome this initiative and now have the relief that our pupils are safe from motorists who don’t slow down or give way to pedestrians,” Nalweyiso said.
She added that the pedestrian lane was more than simply a road-marking exercise, saying it was a visible reminder that children deserved safer spaces to walk, learn and grow.
“Painting a pedestrian lane at Peekaboo Primary School is therefore more than a road-marking exercise. It is a visible reminder to the entire community that children deserve safer spaces to walk, learn and grow,” Nalweyiso said.
