Uganda Set to Commission Modern Traffic Control Centre to Improve Road Safety and Traffic Management

The Government of Uganda is poised to commission a state-of-the-art Traffic Control Centre at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) headquarters, a move aimed at enhancing road safety and improving traffic management in the capital. The facility, developed with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will enable real-time monitoring of traffic conditions, coordinate emergency responses, and strengthen enforcement of road regulations. This development comes as the Ministry of Works and Transport conducts a nationwide review of the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) and speed regulations, following public concern over high fines and reduced payment deadlines.

Key Takeaways:

• The Traffic Control Centre, supported by JICA, will monitor traffic conditions in real-time, coordinate emergency responses, and enforce road regulations.
• The commissioning of the centre coincides with the ongoing review of the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS), which was suspended in June due to public concern over high fines and reduced payment deadlines.
• The centre is equipped with cameras, sensors, and integrated communication systems, enabling efficient management of traffic flow and bolstering road safety enforcement.
• Motorcyclists and pedestrians account for 84% of all recorded road deaths in Uganda, with the country recording 14 deaths per day on average.
• The facility is expected to be commissioned in the coming weeks, marking a significant step towards technology-driven urban mobility and safer roads in Uganda's capital.
• The country recorded 25,107 road crashes in 2024, an increase of 6.4% from 2023, resulting in 4,434 fatal crashes.
• The review of hospital and police data for 2020-2021 identified 1,171 fatalities, with independent modelling estimating the actual figure could be as high as 2,959.

Statistics:

• 25,107 road crashes in 2024, an increase of 6.4% from 2023.
• 4,434 fatal crashes in 2024, resulting in an average of 14 deaths per day.
• 84% of all recorded road deaths involve motorcyclists and pedestrians.
• 47% of road fatalities in Uganda involve motorcyclists and their passengers.
• 34% of road fatalities involve pedestrians.
• 1,171 fatalities were recorded in Kampala between 2020-2021.

Sources:

• Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
• Uganda Police
• Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)
• Urban Mobility Ministry officials.