The Ministry of Works and Transport and the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) have launched a nationwide railway safety campaign following last month’s collision between a school bus and a passenger train on the Jinja Highway. That accident in July renewed concerns over motorists’ disregard for safety rules at railway crossings.
The campaign will target taxi operators, bus drivers, motorcyclists and other road users with messages on safe conduct at level crossings, including the need to slow down, stop when trains approach and obey boom barriers and traffic signals.
Speaking at the launch in Kampala, URC Acting Managing Director Benon Kajuna said although train accidents are relatively rare, they often have devastating consequences because of the number of passengers trains carry and the widespread disruption they cause.
He said most collisions occur because road users either ignore or are unaware of railway safety regulations. According to Kajuna, motorists are required to slow down when approaching railway crossings, stop when a train sounds its horn or when the boom barrier is lowered, and only proceed after confirming that it is safe to cross.
He noted that trains cannot stop immediately to avoid collisions because of their weight and braking distance. Kajuna said URC is working with other government agencies to install speed humps on roads approaching railway crossings to compel motorists to reduce speed before crossing the tracks.
The campaign follows last month’s crash involving a school bus and a passenger train along the Jinja Highway, which sparked public concern over the conduct of the bus driver, who attempted to cross the railway while transporting schoolchildren.
Sergeant David Mwanje, the Officer in Charge of Railway Police at the Kyetume-Namumira crossing in Mukono District, said preliminary investigations indicate that the collision resulted from the driver’s failure to comply with traffic regulations.
He said the train had already slowed down because it was approaching a scheduled stop, reducing the severity of the impact. Transport operators welcomed the campaign but said public education must be sustained.
Ibrahim Buyondo, Secretary General of the United Bus Drivers Association, said Uganda already has sufficient traffic laws to prevent many railway accidents, but many motorists deliberately ignore them.He called for continuous public awareness campaigns across the country, including in districts where railway services are yet to resume.
Motorcycle riders have also been identified among the most frequent violators of railway crossing regulations, with some bypassing lowered barriers or attempting to cross ahead of approaching trains.
Gumo Stephen Panyako, General Secretary of Boda Boda Industry Uganda in Nakawa Division, attributed the problem to impatience and limited awareness of railway safety rules, saying some riders mistakenly believe railway warning infrastructure is no longer operational.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Works and Transport is finalising amendments to the Uganda Railways Act to strengthen regulation of the railway sector.
Assistant Commissioner for Rail Transport Regulation and Safety, Barbara Cynthia Bindeba, said the proposed law will separate regulation from railway operations by establishing an independent regulator instead of leaving both functions under URC. She said the draft legislation is expected to be submitted to Parliament after the ongoing review process is completed –URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
