Cabinet has approved the Traffic and Road safety Amendment bill, 2018 that seeks to strengthen the management of road transport and road safety in Uganda.
The Bills entail matters of road designs, definition of highways and strengthening road safety management so as to thwart the shooting numbers of accidents on the country’s major and minor roads.
Recently the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga tasked the Minister of Works and Transport Monica Azuba to draft and table the bill after Lugazi Municipality MP, Isaac Mulindwa Ssozi raised the issue of concern on the increasing road carnage at various black spots between Mabira forest and Kitega in Buikwe district.
However, in a cabinet meeting held at State House Entebbe, ministers gave green light for the bill saying it will enhance and strengthen the traffic and road safety regulatory and enforcement regimes and improve the provision and management of road transport services.
Speaking at media Centre Deputy government Spokesperson rtd Col. Shaban Bantaliza said if passed into law, the act will harmonize the Traffic and Road safety law with the international, regional, national laws and protocols.
“The bill provide for continuous technology innovations including ICT innovation in the transport services sector in the country,” he said at media centre.
According to Global status report on road safety 2018, over 1.35 million have perished in road accidents implying that nearly 3 700 people die on the world’s roads every day with Africa having the highest proportion of pedestrian and cyclist mortalities with 44 per cent of deaths.
The report recommended for safer infrastructure like dedicated lanes for cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and improve vehicle standards for scaling down on the number of accidents.