Missing, faded and stolen road signs along sections of the Gayaza Road are leaving motorists and pedestrians vulnerable to accidents, with traffic police warning that poor signage is contributing to dangerous driving and road crashes. Residents, motorists and traffic officers say several sections of the road lack signs to guide road users on speed limits, pedestrian crossings, turns and right of way, creating confusion particularly in busy areas.
Vero Aguti, a resident along the road, said crossing the road has become increasingly difficult, especially during peak hours when vehicles move at high speeds. “It’s complicated to cross the road at busy hours of the day due to the increased number of vehicles that are moving at high speeds,” Aguti said.
She said a pedestrian crossing is urgently needed around Kumukaga, where several schools have been established. Aguti also called for warning signs alerting motorists that they are approaching schools to encourage them to slow down. Motorists who regularly use the road say some of the signs that were previously installed have become difficult to see because they have faded.
Mande Sennyonjo, a boda boda rider, said the situation is particularly dangerous at night. He said some road sections have no signs at all, including a sharp turn-off leading to Komamboga. Sennyonjo said he once missed the turn at night because there was no sign warning road users about the junction and the need to slow down.
David Kasozi, a truck driver who frequently uses the road, said the absence of warning signs is also creating problems around areas where heavy trucks turn into and out of the road. He said the road carries many Sino trucks and that the absence of signs warning motorists about truck turning points has contributed to crashes, some of which have left people hospitalised.
Some residents, who asked not to be identified, alleged that road signs installed in some sections had been stolen and sold as scrap metal. They said the theft has left several blind spots without signs, exposing pedestrians and boda boda riders, whom they described as among the most vulnerable road users. Traffic police say the consequences of poor signage are already being reflected in accident records.
Ssekandi James, a traffic officer based at Kanyanya Police Station, said road signs are intended to caution, guide and instruct road users, and their absence can create conditions for crashes. He cited a section at Kalerwe, on the Kampala-Gayaza Road, where boda boda riders make U-turns to return towards Kalerwe. Ssekandi said a Sino truck killed two boda boda riders at the spot earlier this year, arguing that the absence of a sign warning against U-turns contributed to the danger.
He also identified the stretch between Mpererwe and Kumukaga, particularly from Byansi Petrol Station towards Kumukaga Market, as another high-risk area because of speeding and heavy pedestrian traffic. According to the traffic police, more than two fatal crashes involving a rider and a pedestrian were recorded last month between August 27 and 31.
Ssekandi said another dangerous section is between Cado Petrol Station and Mogas towards Kumbuzi, where vehicles joining Gayaza Road from Kyanja interact with traffic on the main road without adequate signage to indicate right of way. He said the lack of signs also makes enforcement difficult because some motorists claim they were unaware of speed restrictions or other traffic controls.
Ssekandi said traffic officers sometimes have to deal with motorists who refuse to stop, while some suspects challenge traffic tickets on the grounds that there are no visible signs indicating the traffic rule they allegedly violated. He also raised concern about interference by some influential people and officials operating along the road, saying traffic officers sometimes face difficulties carrying out their duties.
Ssekandi called on the Ministry of Works and Transport to act on reports submitted by the traffic police and address the identified blind spots. He highlighted the junction towards Komamboga, the stretch between Mpererwe and Kumukaga, and the need for pedestrian crossings at Mpererwe as some of the areas requiring urgent intervention.
The traffic officer also attributed the growing danger to increasing human activity along the road, saying more people have built and settled along the route, increasing interaction between pedestrians and fast-moving vehicles. He urged authorities to bring the road to the required standards by installing adequate signage and road markings and ensuring that road safety infrastructure is incorporated into road construction and rehabilitation projects.
Ssekandi also expressed concern about drivers who obtain licences without adequate training, including people who fail to attend accredited driving schools and therefore have limited knowledge of road signs and traffic rules. He warned against unlicensed and unaccredited driving schools, saying inadequate training puts other road users at risk.
With Gayaza Road carrying increasing traffic and supporting growing settlements along its route, residents and traffic police are now calling for urgent replacement of missing and faded signs, installation of pedestrian crossings and road markings, and stronger enforcement to reduce the risk of further loss of life-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
