Concern is growing over the rising number of road crashes involving children, with authorities pointing to speeding as a leading cause of many preventable incidents. Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura has urged motorists to exercise greater caution, especially near schools and residential areas, stressing that protecting children on the roads is a shared responsibility.
“Children are among the most vulnerable road users, yet many of the crashes involving them are preventable. Recent incidents clearly point to speeding as a major cause. We urge all road users to slow down, especially near schools. Protecting children is a shared responsibility,” Kananura said.
He made the remarks during the Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS) road safety campaign dubbed Safe Kids, Safe Future, which concluded with an activation at Kibuye Primary School in Kampala.
The campaign reached more than 4,000 pupils across Mbale, Fort Portal, Mbarara and Kampala, equipping them with essential road safety knowledge.
“Today marks the last day of this engagement with ITMS, where we have been visiting primary schools to sensitise pupils about road safety. Reaching more than 4,000 pupils is significant. These children have learnt how to use the roads safely, which side to walk on, and what to do before crossing,” Kananura said.
He added that the initiative also provided practical support, including helmets and reflective jackets to improve children’s safety and visibility on the roads.
The Kibuye event was attended by several government agencies, including the Uganda Police Force, the Ministry of Works and Transport, and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), all of whom partnered with ITMS on the initiative. The agencies emphasised the need for collective action to reduce road accidents, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children.
“This initiative is timely and necessary. Our children face daily risks on the roads, and equipping them with knowledge is one of the strongest protections we can offer,” said KCCA spokesperson Daniel Nuwabine.
Kananura noted that while police have long engaged schools on road safety, partnerships such as the one with ITMS have helped expand their reach.
“As police, we cannot cover the entire country, but partnerships like this amplify our message and enable us to reach more schools. This is how we build a culture where children grow up understanding road safety,” he said.
He stressed that many road crashes are linked to human behaviour, arguing that early intervention is critical.
“If we shape behaviour from a young age, we will see lasting change. I call upon parents, guardians, school administrators and the public to take responsibility, because children remain at risk due to their vulnerability on the roads,” he said.
Kananura also highlighted gaps in road safety awareness among learners, noting that while some schools are proactive, others lag behind.
“In some schools, pupils have basic knowledge about road safety, and we commend those teachers and administrators. However, in others, children lack even the most basic understanding,” he said.
He urged schools to take immediate action even before road safety is formally integrated into the curriculum.
“Schools can start now. Headteachers should use assemblies to share road safety tips, form road safety clubs, and display messages such as ‘speed kills’ and ‘crash helmets save lives’ within school compounds,” he said.
ITMS representatives reaffirmed their commitment to expanding road safety awareness across the country.
“Road safety begins with awareness. When children understand how to use the road safely, they not only protect themselves but also influence their communities,” said Steven Turyarugayo, a PR consultant at ITMS.
The Safe Kids, Safe Future initiative, spearheaded by ITMS in partnership with the Traffic Directorate of the Uganda Police Force and the Ministry of Works and Transport, has over the past three months reached more than 4,000 pupils in 12 schools across the country.
Uganda continues to record an estimated two schoolchildren deaths daily in road accidents, according to the 2025 traffic report. The figures highlight a worrying trend of children being knocked by vehicles during peak morning and evening hours as they travel to and from school.
At Kibuye Primary School, the message was clear: road safety is a shared responsibility, and every child deserves a safe journey to and from school.
