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🇺🇬 Uganda /Crime & Justice

Uganda Traffic Police Arrest 551 in Week-Long Road Safety Crackdown

From AllAfrica Uganda · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Traffic police in Uganda arrested 551 drivers and riders in a week-long road safety crackdown.
  • The arrests were for various violations, including dangerous mechanical conditions, driving without a license, and careless overtaking.
  • The operation comes as Uganda faces rising road crashes and fatalities, with a 3.7% increase in accidents and a 4.7% rise in deaths last year.

Uganda's Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety has apprehended 551 drivers and riders in a concentrated week-long enforcement operation aimed at curbing traffic violations and reducing road accidents. Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura announced the figures Tuesday, detailing a range of offenses that continue to endanger road users across the country.

The apprehended individuals were cited for numerous infractions. The most common violations included operating vehicles in a dangerous mechanical condition, with 185 cases recorded. Driving without a valid license accounted for 121 arrests, while 84 drivers were caught for careless overtaking. Other offenses included riding without helmets, illegal vehicle modifications, dangerous loading, and violating traffic directions.

Kananura urged all drivers and riders to adhere strictly to traffic rules and regulations to enhance road safety and prevent crashes. He emphasized that these enforcement operations are ongoing and are crucial in addressing the persistent challenges on Uganda's roads.

The Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety apprehended 551 drivers and riders over the past week for various traffic offenses.

— Michael KananuraAnnouncing the results of the week-long enforcement operation.

The crackdown occurs against a backdrop of alarming statistics. The Uganda Police Force's 2025 Annual Crime and Traffic Safety Report revealed a 3.7% increase in road crashes, totaling 26,044 incidents last year, up from 25,107 in the previous year. Fatalities also saw a significant rise of 4.7%, with 5,383 deaths in 2025 compared to 5,141 in 2024. This translates to an average of approximately 15 road traffic deaths daily.

Road safety experts consistently point to reckless driving, poor vehicle maintenance, and a general disregard for traffic regulations as primary causes of these accidents. Authorities stress that sustained enforcement, coupled with public awareness campaigns and stricter adherence to safety rules, are vital to reversing this dangerous trend.

These enforcement operations are ongoing. All drivers and riders are urged to obey traffic rules and regulations to enhance road safety and prevent crashes.

— Michael KananuraUrging compliance with traffic laws.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by AllAfrica Uganda in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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