Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Know Before You Go Driving Culture ‰‰ Driving is on the left. • Drivers may mark roadways with branches or rocks ‰‰ Approximately one third of all road fatalities involve to indicate an obstacle or disabled vehicle ahead. pedestrians. • Cars may not be equipped with working headlights ‰‰ Drivers are required to carry a valid driver’s license in English, or taillights. good for up to three months. After this time, an International • Pedestrians frequently walk in roads; unlit Driving Permit (IDP) is required; some rental agencies may conditions may mean pedestrians are not easily require both a license and IDP. visible. ‰ ‰ Drivers must have proof of third-party insurance. • Drivers often do not stop even in urban areas ‰‰ Seat belt use is mandatory for drivers and all passengers. where zebra crossings and pedestrian signals are ‰‰ There are no restrictions on children riding in front seats. ‰‰ Blood alcohol limit is 0.08 g/dl. Enforcement is low. available. ‰‰ Alcohol is a major contributor to traffic crashes, especially at • Large transport trucks on highways are commonly night. overloaded, have inadequately secured cargo, ‰‰ Driving while using drugs is prohibited. and are poorly maintained; braking systems may ‰‰ There are 27.4 road deaths per 100,000 people in Uganda, not be functional. compared to 2.8 in Sweden and 2.9 in the UK. • Loose livestock on and near roads is common.

Road Conditions • There are 20,544 km (12,765 miles) of roads in Uganda. 4,257 km (2,645 miles) are paved. • There is no national road safety strategy. • Formal audits are required for new road construction projects. • Regular inspections of existing road structure are required. • According to a recent survey by Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport, Ugandan roads have become increasingly dangerous for all road users. • Rural roads are generally in poor condition. A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended for travel beyond urban areas. • Violent crime is common. Police lack resources to respond to emergencies including crashes and crime. • Night travel should be avoided outside of cities. The majority of roads are poorly lit or unlit. • Despite policies to promote walking and cycling, pedestrian infrastructure is poorly developed. • During rainy seasons, unpaved roads are frequently impassible. • Hazardous conditions including floods and standing water may conceal deep potholes, even in cities. • Pedestrians should exercise extreme caution during heavy rains as road surfaces and curbs are obscured. • Murram roads, also known as laterite roads, are common, especially in National Parks: »» Surfaces consist of small stones mixed with dirt and sand that may become slippery when wet. »» Steeply curved surfaces used to improve drainage also increase risk of skidding. »» Drivers often travel in center of road where surface is flatter, adding to risk of head-on collisions. »» Without regular maintenance, surfaces develop potholes, deep ruts, ridges of small stones along edges, or corrugated surfaces. »» Dust created by passing vehicles reduces visibility during dry weather. »» Tire wear is 40–50% higher than on paved roads, with increased risk of damaged or punctured tires. Carry a spare.

Source: CIA Factbook ©ASIRT 2018 1 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Uganda • The following roads may present particular challenges to drivers due to lack of maintenance, speeding, lack of lane discipline, reckless driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol and other substances: »» The roads between Jinja and , and between Kampala and Masaka have a high rate of crashes; the Kampala–Masaka road is regarded as one of the most dangerous roads in Africa, with a high incidence of head-on crashes. »» The road to Jinja is a major truck route. Truck drivers commonly speed and overtake in unsafe areas. »» Roads around Fort Portal’s crater lakes are dirt surfaces that become impassable during the rainy seasons. Four wheel drive is essential. »» The two-lane road from Hoima to Kampala was upgraded to tarmac in 2009 but has deteriorated; surfaces contain deep potholes. The road is congested. Crashes are common. Construction is planned for the section between Namungoona and Busunju, slated to become the Kampala-Busunju Expressway. Regional and Seasonal Conditions • The US State Department cautions that car jackings and armed robberies of pedestrians occur even in daylight hours. • Roads through Queen Elizabeth National Park are paved. Many roads have potholes. • After heavyrain, flooding and landslides are common near Bwindi National Park. • Uganda is subject to torrential rains and severe seasonal flooding. • There are two official rainy seasons: March to May, and mid-September to November; heavy rains may occur beyond these dates. • Following heavy rain, treacherous flood conditions may exist: »» Standing water can hide road surfaces and large potholes. »» Water levels can change rapidly. »» Floodwaters may destabilize bridges by washing away or loosening foundations. »» Small rural bridges are especially at risk. • Be familiar with emergency procedures. The Red Cross provides a website and free, downloadable emergency app: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies Public Transportation • No policies exist to encourage public transportation. • Except in major cities, public transportation and taxi service is limited to mini buses and small vans called matatus, and motorcycle taxis known as boda bodas. • Boda bodas include motorcycles, mopeds and scooters. In some areas, bicycles are used; passengers sit behind the cyclist. • Boda boda drivers often travel through groups of pedestrians, Speed Limits against traffic, and on sidewalks. Type of road Maximum speed 50 kph • Matatus and boda bodas have poor safety records, and are the Urban areas most common vehicles involved in fatal crashes. (31 mph) • Vans and mini buses operating as matatus are often poorly Rural roads 100 kph (62 mph) maintained and may be missing standard safety equipment. No maximum Motorways • Matatus drivers often have little training and may behave speed limit recklessly. • Matatus drivers commonly travel at high speeds and often Always adjust speed according to signage, hazards and weather conditions. overtake in the face of oncoming traffic.

Signs are generally pictorial and may not follow European Union conventions.

Pedestrian No Diversion No Roundabout Yield to Uneven No entry for Dual crossing overtaking ahead parking oncoming road pedestrians carriageway traffic surface ends

©ASIRT 2018 2 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Uganda • Matatus equipment may not have basic safety features Kampala (Capital) such as seatbelts, turn signals or functioning brakes. » • Matatus follow preset routes. Drivers may wait until vehicle »Traffic gridlock is common. » is filled before departing stops; matatus generally carry »City streets are poorly maintained; paved unsafe numbers of people. surfaces may be uneven and have large potholes. » • Matatus may be hailed from the roadside. Calling out »Roads and streets are poorly marked. » “stage” to the driver or conductor signals them to stop. »Pedestrian walkways are lacking beyond roads • Women passengers may be expected to ride sidesaddle on controlled by the Kampala Capital City Authority. » boda-bodas. »Drivers may ignore zebra crossings and • Yellow taxis called “special hires” are available in some pedestrian lights. » cities, including Kampala. Yellow taxi equipment is »Where present, sidewalk surfaces may be generally newer. uneven or have potholes. » • Few yellow taxis have meters. Agree on rate prior to travel. »Public transportation consists of matatus mini • Ferries have a poor safety record. Multiple fatalities have bus taxis, boda boda motorcycle taxis and yellow occurred on Lake Albert and ; overcrowding taxis called “special hires.” » of boats has been a determining factor. »Yellow taxis are available in city center and to • Ferry boats may lack adequate life preservers and safety and from the airport. Prices are fixed according equipment. If traveling by ferry, bring your own life to route. » preserver. »Yellow taxis may be booked for sightseeing. If unmetered, agree on fare before entering taxi. Traffic Regulations »»Both matatus and boda bodas are considered • Drivers must be a minimum of 18 years old. Rental car generally unsafe, and are involved in the majority agencies may have separate age requirements. of traffic fatalities. • Beyond major roads and urban centers, road signs are »»Limited commuter train service is available from scarce. Kampala City to Namanve in . • Give way to traffic already in roundabout. Service is intermittent. • Police often direct traffic at roundabouts and intersections. »» International Airport is located Be familiar with hand signals. approximately 40 km (25 miles) from city center. • Dipped headlights are required when following or »»Official airport taxis provide service to city approaching another vehicle. center. • Helmet use is mandatory for drivers and passengers of »»Rental car agencies are located in the arrivals motorcycles and mopeds. hall. • Helmet enforcement is poor; an estimated 49% of drivers and 1% of passengers comply with law. • Overtaking near a marked zebra crossing is prohibited. • All road traffic rules apply to cyclists. • Government motorcades are common on the roads from Entebbe Airport leading to and from Kampala. Motorcades occupy the center of roadways and may force other traffic off roads. For safety, pull over if a motorcade is approaching.

©ASIRT 2018 3 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Uganda Emergency Information • Emergency numbers: »» Police: 112 »» Ambulance and fire: 999 • Pre-program emergency numbers into your phone before departure. • Responses to emergency situations may be slow. Authorites have limited capacity to deal with emergency situations including crashes and criminal attacks. • Emergency medical care and auto repair services are scarce in areas of the Karamoja Region. • If involved in a crash: »» Stop immediately and activate warning lights. »» Turn off engine. »» If there are injuries, call police and contact emergency services. »» Ugandan law requries that injured persons be given aid, unless doing so will endanger them. »» Exchange contact information with other drivers, including insurance company and insurance policy number. »» Take photos if possible. »» Record description of other vehicle(s) involved including license plate number, year, make, model and color. »» Onlookers may react with mob violence at crash scenes. If angry onlookers are present, drive to nearest police station to report crash.

ASIRT is a non-profit humanitarian organization established in memory of Aron Sobel, age 25, who was killed along with 22 other passengers in a Pamukkale Bus Company crash on the roads of Turkey.

Disclaimer: ASIRT provides this information as a service to travelers. This Road Safety Review is intended to provide general guidelines for travelers driving in country, whether their own or rental vehicles. ASIRT in no way recommends driving in an unfamiliar country. Any electronic links provided in this Report are for illustrative purposes and ASIRT is not responsible for the content provided within these electronic links and/or videos. Copyright: Purchasers of this Road Safety Review are entitled to use it for purposes of research, education, information on health, safety and general road and traffic conditions or other non-commercial uses. Neither the whole nor any part of this ASIRT Road Safety Review may be copied in any form or provided to any other party without the prior written consent of the copyright owner. Flag images are © Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook.

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