Victims of traffic accidents struggle to recover despite limited help

Uganda faces an alarming number of road accidents, resulting in serious injuries and disabilities for survivors.

Many victims struggle to access care or support, leaving them financially and emotionally exhausted.

According to data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos), Mbale district has one of the highest numbers of road accidents in the country, with the Tororo-Mbale highway cited as a fatal hotspot.

In 2023 alone, the district recorded more than 400 serious accidents, killing 120 and leaving many survivors with life-changing injuries.

Mr Rogers Taitika, Elgon Regional Police spokesperson, stated that many people succumb to injuries from road traffic accidents.

“Every day our officers respond to countless traffic accidents, many of which result in serious injuries and death,” he said.

Mr Taitika added: “The resources available to help survivors are limited. All we can do is take them to government hospitals for care and, if they are dead, to the mortuary where we can locate their relatives.”

Family members of survivors often bear the emotional and financial burden of traffic accidents without help from authorities.

Mr Joel Wangisi, a 44-year-old businessman from Mbale City, is one such survivor whose life changed drastically after an accident on the Mbale-Soroti Road in 2022.

“It left me wheelchair-bound and facing a bleak future,” Wangisi said, adding that he received little medical care from the hospital where he was admitted.

Mr Samuel Kintu, the Chairman of Mooni Cell in Mbale City, said victims usually require prosthetic limbs, rehabilitation services and emotional support, which are lacking in the overburdened public health facilities.

“The government must equip public facilities to meet the needs of road accident survivors,” he said.

Mr Moses Otieno, a traffic police officer on the Mbale-Lwakhakha Road, said the number of accidents in Uganda is alarming and many survivors are left without support.

“There is a need for physical assistance and also for the reintegration of survivors into society,” he said.

Road safety remains a major problem in Mbale and Uganda in general, with poor infrastructure, lax enforcement of traffic laws and reckless driving contributing to many accidents.

Although the government has made efforts to raise awareness through campaigns such as the Stay Alive initiative, enforcement remains weak and many motorists continue to flout traffic rules.

“Every day we lose lives due to avoidable road accidents. It’s not just about creating awareness; we need stricter enforcement and more investment in road infrastructure to reduce accidents,” Otieno said.

Statistics from the Ugandan traffic police show that more than 20,000 road accidents occur every year, with 5,000 fatalities. Many survivors remain permanently disabled.

Mrs. Agnes Nafuna, a teacher by profession, stressed the need for policies that ensure road accident survivors have access to medical care and employment. “Survivors should not become forgotten members of society. They need physiotherapy, counseling and social reintegration,” she said.

Dr. John Mugabi, a specialist at Mbale General Hospital, said many survivors do not have access to prosthetics or rehabilitation services.

“The public healthcare system is overwhelmed and cannot meet demand,” he explained.

Mrs Asumin Nasike, the Mbale resident city commissioner, said the increasing number of road accidents is due to increased public disregard for traffic rules.

“Most accidents happen in the late hours when traffic policemen are not on the road. Right now, motorcyclists tend to speed and ride recklessly because they know no one is supervising,” she said.

Ms Nasike said the council should fix traffic lights to improve traffic flow and road safety.

“These areas, especially where traffic lights go on and off intermittently, contribute significantly to the problem,” she said.

Mr Johnson Gimuyi, a senior city engineer, said plans are in place to address critical areas needing improvement in Mbale’s road infrastructure.

“We are improving traffic management in Mbale. We have designated several roads for both light and heavy traffic, allowing smoother flow of vehicles,” he said.

Mr Gimuyi added that they are also focusing on improving the road network in rural communities and conducting educational programs to raise awareness about traffic laws among residents.

Ms Binta Sako, World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Officer at the Regional Office for Africa, said pedestrians have consistently been among the most vulnerable road users in previous reports.

“In Africa, more pedestrians die on the streets than in vehicles. About 80 percent of Africa’s population relies on walking as their primary mode of transportation; There is an urgent need to ensure their safety given the rising trend in road fatalities,” Ms Sako said at the launch of the WHO Africa Region Road Safety Report in Nairobi, Kenya in July.

She attributed the high traffic fatalities to a lack of pedestrian protection policies, poor road designs and inadequate regulations.

Ms Chiara Retis, WHO Africa Team Leader for Violence and Injury Prevention, stressed the need for African countries to improve post-accident care and rescue efforts for victims.

She also stressed the importance of encouraging motorists to use seat belts and helmets to help reduce fatalities across the continent.

The WHO Africa Region Road Safety Report highlights an alarming road safety situation in Africa, with a mortality rate of 19.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Since 2010, deaths have increased by 17 percent, from 192,682 to 225,482 deaths.

Ms Sarah Nambozo, Director of HopeAhead, a non-governmental organization involved in the rehabilitation of accident victims, said there is a need for more robust policies in the country that address road safety.

“Traffic accidents leave survivors with visible and invisible scars. We need a system that supports them,” she said.

Traffic accident statistics

Statistics from the Ugandan traffic police show that more than 20,000 road accidents occur every year, with 5,000 fatalities. In 2023 alone, Mbale District recorded more than 400 serious accidents, resulting in 120 deaths and many survivors with life-changing injuries.