Uganda's professional drivers want speed cameras back on the roads. The Uganda Professional Drivers Network (UPDN), Road Safety Coalition Uganda (ROSACU) and their partners made the call on Sunday at Bwaise Transport Terminal in Kampala, the Nile Post reported. The event marked the World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims.
The groups asked for a credible, transparent and accountable enforcement system. They said it should protect road users and address the complaints raised during the previous rollout. "Effective speed cameras, transparent procedures and accountable enforcement can strengthen efforts to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads," UPDN said in a statement.
Road crashes kill about 15 people a day in Uganda, according to the Nile Post. Police recorded 5,383 road deaths in 2025, up from 5,144 in 2024. Another 18,444 people were injured. SP Michael Kananura, spokesperson for the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, said many of the crashes were preventable. He named speeding, reckless overtaking, drink-driving and distracted driving as leading causes. He said road deaths should not be treated as an inevitable part of travel.
Apollo Kasule, chairperson of the Uganda Drivers' Board, said road safety was everyone's responsibility. He urged motorists, pedestrians and other road users to follow traffic rules and protect lives.
The government is already preparing to bring automated enforcement back. Apollo Kashanku, an Assistant Commissioner at the Ministry of Works and Transport, said it plans to reintroduce a revised Advanced Traffic Management System. It will also reinstate the Express Penalty Scheme. The system uses surveillance cameras and number plate recognition to catch offences such as speeding and running red lights. Kashanku also urged motorists to take their vehicles for regular inspections.
The cameras are meant to fill gaps left by a small traffic police force. Robert Kisakye, a Senior Licensing Officer at the ministry, recently estimated that Uganda has no more than 2,000 traffic officers. He said drivers behave better when they know cameras are watching.
The previous system ran into trouble. The Express Penalty Scheme was suspended in June 2025 after public outcry over steep fines and a 72-hour payment window. Drivers also objected to the 30km/h speed limit in built-up areas. The drivers said a new system should focus on safer roads, not just on punishing motorists.