A doctor in the Casualty and Emergency ward told The Uganda Times on condition of anonymity that 13 of the 17 accident victims had been knocked by Boda-bodas. He however, said that majority of the victims were rushed there in critical state.
In the night of April 4th, 2020, Mulago hospital casualty ward registered close to 20 victims of road accidents. Most of the victims were rushed to the hospital by police patrol, motorcycles and ambulances in critical condition.
A doctor in the Casualty and Emergency ward told The Uganda Times on condition of anonymity that 13 of the 17 accident victims had been knocked by Boda-bodas. He however, said that majority of the victims were rushed there in critical state.
“We have noticed that since the ban on public and private transport means, most victims are brought in between 7pm and 11pm. They are brought in when they are in a very worrying state. At least three of the victims come when they need oxygen support,” the doctor said.
On the said night, the whole casualty ward was flooded with accidents victims. Some of them m were vomiting blood, others had broken legs, and shuttered heads. Uganda Times saw doctors struggling to stabilise a woman who was conscious after being involved in an accident.
“Three victims died on arrival. They had been brought in by police. We had recorded them as unknown because police said they found them struggling for their life after being knocked,” the doctor said.
Commissioner of Police –CP, Bazir Mugisha, the Acting Director of Traffic Uganda Police Force, says several people are being knocked down by speeding motor vehicles and motorcyclists. He says several motorists are tempted to rush because of the current lock down.
A police traffic officer told The Uganda Times on condition of anonymity that he had recorded 41 road accidents between Wednesday and Monday this week in Kampala Metropolitan South region. The region covers Entebbe Road, Kibuye-Ndeeba-Natete Road, Salaama Road and Kibuye-Munyonyo Road.
“At least I saw 11 people severely injured while two pedestrians died on spot. These Boda-boda riders are careless because they want to dodge roadblocks while others want to beat the curfew. The bad side of these scenarios is that they are still carrying passengers who are the most vulnerable whenever a motorcycle is knocked,” the officer said.
Mugisha acknowledges that drivers and motorcyclists speed to beat the curfew while others get accidents while attempting to dodge impromptu roadblocks.
The speed limit in urban areas is 50km per hours. However, Mugisha says it should be lowered to 30km per hour. Traffic records show that 7000 riders; passengers and pedestrians were killed in motorcycle accidents in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Entebbe, Northern Bypass and Jinja-Mukono roads recorded the highest number of accidents, according to the traffic records of 2018. The biggest number of riders and passengers were hit at Jinja Road, Clock Tower and Kibuye junctions. In total, 3191 died of road accidents translating into 10 deaths per day.
Kato Joseph
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