New Report Highlights Big Strides in Road Safety Awareness Among Ugandan Pupils

A fresh joint report by the Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda Police Force, Ministry of Education and Sports, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), and Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) points to major gains in road safety awareness among primary school pupils in Uganda.

The report, made public today, assesses the impact of the Safe Kids, Safe Future road safety sensitisation campaign, which reached nearly 10,000 learners. Rolled out between November 2025 and April 2026, the campaign targeted about 9,700 pupils in 12 primary schools in Kampala, Mbale, Fort Portal, and Mbarara. Using interactive lessons, practical demonstrations, visual aids, and advocacy activities, pupils were guided through key aspects of safe road use, including interpreting traffic signs, responsible pedestrian conduct, and safe crossing.

The effort also spurred the creation and strengthening of school-based road safety clubs. The report notes that more than 4,035 road safety items were distributed to learners and schools, among them reflective vests, reflective arm bracelets, crash helmets, and educational bookmarks. Officials say the materials not only improved children’s visibility on the road but also served as everyday prompts for safer behaviour.

Traffic and Road Safety Spokesman Michael Kananura represented the Director of Traffic and Road Safety, Lawrence Niwabine, at the event. He emphasised the impact of community-centred sensitisation in cutting child-related road crashes.

“We have observed increased awareness among pupils regarding pedestrian safety, road signs, and safe crossing practices. The recommendation to strengthen school road safety clubs and install more road signage near schools is timely and necessary,” said Kananura, reaffirming Uganda Police’s commitment to initiatives that make roads safer for children and surrounding communities. Ministry of Works and Transport spokesperson, Susan Kataike, hailed the partnership behind the campaign and underscored the need to keep road safety education ongoing. “The findings from this campaign clearly show that early road safety education is critical in shaping responsible future road users,” she said.

According to Kataike, the strong interest from pupils and teachers alike shows that such programmes should be sustained and rolled out to more schools across the country. “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and protecting children on our roads must remain a national priority,” she added. On behalf of KCCA, Daniel Nuwabine drew attention to the infrastructure gaps around busy school zones. “The campaign has revealed the urgent need for enhanced pedestrian infrastructure, especially around high-traffic school zones. KCCA welcomes the recommendation to improve signage and pedestrian facilities, and we look forward to continued collaboration with stakeholders to make urban roads safer for children,” he noted.

ITMS Public Relations Consultant, Steven Turyarugayo, pointed to the value of aligning technology with education and partnerships. “The Safe Kids, Safe Future campaign has demonstrated that combining education, partnerships, and technology can significantly improve road safety awareness among young learners. Through initiatives like these, we are building a generation that appreciates safer road-use behaviour and the role of digital road safety solutions,” Turyarugayo said. In a joint resolve, the stakeholders pledged to keep road safety education high on the national agenda and urged that the campaign be expanded to reach more schools countrywide. They stressed that continued collaboration will be key to shielding children and communities from preventable road traffic incidents.