Overview:
The Ugandan government is reviving its automated speed camera system as road fatalities reach record highs, with a new focus on enforcing 30 kph limits in high-risk zones like schools and hospitals.
KAMPALA, Uganda — The government is moving to revive its automated speed camera system as road fatalities in Uganda reach record highs, with officials now focusing on a 30 kph limit in sensitive areas to curb a growing safety crisis.
The Express Penalty Scheme, which uses cameras to penalize speeding and red-light violations, was previously suspended following motorist complaints over system errors and unfair fines. Winstone Katushabe, commissioner for road safety at the Ministry of Works and Transport, said Wednesday that the urgency to reduce crashes is driving the return of the system.
Government has been trying to put in place interventions to reduce road crashes and one of the biggest challenges of these road crashes is speed, Katushabe said during a stakeholder meeting in Kampala.
The push to reinstate the cameras comes as Uganda faces a significant road safety emergency. More than 25,000 road crashes were recorded in 2024, resulting in an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 deaths annually. Police data indicates that speeding and reckless driving are the primary causes of these fatalities, which now average about 14 deaths per day.
Under the revised approach, authorities will enforce a 30 kph limit specifically in designated high-risk zones such as schools, hospitals, markets and churches. Robert Kisakye, a senior licensing officer at the ministry, noted that earlier proposals had mistakenly extended the limit across entire roads, but the plan has been corrected to protect vulnerable road users in specific areas.
To address the public concerns that led to the original suspension, the government is revising the fine payment timeline and clarifying legal responsibility for borrowed vehicles.
You are issued a ticket, and you are supposed to pay within 28 days. In 2020, this law was amended to reflect 72 hours, and that is one of the areas that had contention among the public, Katushabe said.
Technical improvements are underway to prevent duplicate fines, and the system is currently being tested using government vehicles. A phased rollout is expected to begin in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
To ensure transparency, the government plans to install clear signage. If a camera is half a kilometer ahead, a signpost will notify motorists, Katushabe added.
The ministry will continue consultations in Jinja, Gulu and Mbarara before submitting a final report to the Cabinet.