High road crashes in Lango blamed on negligence of traffic rules

By Marion Ajwang (editor@vol.co.ug)

Lira City

Rampant road accidents in Lango have been blamed on negligence of traffic rules and regulations by motorists.

Whereas many cases of road carnage tend to increase during festive seasons, much of other period in the course of the year, road accidents are common with Boda-boda motorists and trucks that ferry traders to weekly markets across the region.

SP Mathias Okwir Mulumba, the North Kyoga Regional Traffic Officer, cited increased tendencies of overloading, reckless driving, drivers or riders without valid licenses, over speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol as the most common causes of road crashes in Lango sub region.

Okwir however noted that the mobile market vendors in Lira City travel early morning to different markets and return late in the evening to evade charges by Police traffic and other interferences due to poor usage of the roads.

The truck drivers in particular albeit allegations of poor mechanical conditions of their vehicles are also blamed for neglecting traffic rules and regulations by overloading passengers and commodities, over speeding and disrespecting other road users.

These in most cases have caused serious and fetal road accidents leading injuries and loss of lives. Patrick Opio Obote, the chairperson of the Lira City mobile market vendors group confirmed that the trucks are always overloaded. He added that this risk their lives.

**Vendors returning from Ajuri market on Wednessday evening Photo by Ajwang Marion**

In January 2022, a total of seven vendors were killed and scores injured in Agali sub-county, Lira district while returning from Ajuri market in Alebtong district when the truck carrying over 50 vendors and their commodities overturned at Piiawac,Abako along Alebtong-Lira road.

However, Bernard Anyeko, the Northern Uganda Driver’s spokesperson said that the drivers are implementing the resolutions against over loading that was agreed upon last year following rampant cases of accidents involving market trucks.

Okwir concurred with the the driver’s spokesperson saying his office has not registered any serious road crash for the past one year.

According to the Uganda Police Traffic report, there were 4,806 deaths reported in the road crashes. Out of the 4,806, 1,675 were pedestrians, 1,520 were motorcyclists, 614 were passengers on motorcycles, 324 were passengers travelling in vehicles and 232 were drivers.