In May 2025, Uganda launched the Safe School Zone Initiative aimed at reducing road traffic fatalities among children. Led by the Ministry of Education and Sports, the initiative employs a multi-sectoral approach that integrates road safety education with enhanced enforcement measures and targeted infrastructure improvements.
The urgency of the Safe School Zone initiative can no longer be ignored. According to the Uganda Police Annual Report, 268 children aged 5 to 17 lost their lives, and more than 1,300 were seriously injured in road crashes in 2024 alone—many while walking to or from school. The report highlights that children are increasingly vulnerable, especially in areas without safe crossings, clear signage, or proper speed regulation.
In May 2025, Uganda launched the Safe School Zone Initiative to reduce child road crash fatalities. Led by the Ministry of Education and Sports, the initiative adopts a multi-sectoral approach that combines road safety education with enforcement and infrastructure improvements. Its key objectives include improving school-zone infrastructure, integrating road safety into the school curriculum, empowering communities, and coordinating national efforts through a unified platform to create safer learning environments across the country.
STASSU
ROSACU member organizations have begun operationalizing the Safe School Zone Initiative, with Safe Transport and Survivors Support Uganda STASSU taking the lead in partnering with the Ministry of Education and Sports. STASSU is advocating for the establishment of a National Road Safety School–Community Platform. This proposed platform aims to centralize and strengthen road safety education, awareness, and coordination in schools and surrounding communities nationwide.
Safe Way Right Way
With support from TotalEnergies Uganda, Safe Way Right Way (SWRW) is reaching schools through its VIA Road Safety Program. At Ndandamire Primary School, 182 Primary One learners were introduced to basic safe road-crossing skills. Similar sessions were conducted at Anel Junior School and Pamitu Primary School.
Learners were actively engaged through interactive road safety education initiatives, including the formation of School Road Safety Clubs. These clubs go beyond classroom learning by equipping children with practical, life-saving skills and nurturing a culture of road safety responsibility from an early age.
Through these programs, Safe Way Right Way empowers children to recognize road dangers, positively influence their peers, and become road safety champions within their communities.
Responsive Drivers Uganda
Responsive Drivers Uganda (ReDU), with support from UN-Habitat, has implemented road safety interventions benefiting three primary schools in Gulu City: Mother Angeletta Primary School, Gulu Primary School, and Mama Cave Primary School.
The support provided included:
- Painting zebra crossings to improve safe road crossings for learners
- Illustrating road safety signs and symbols on school building walls to raise awareness among learners, teachers, parents, boda boda riders, and drivers during drop-off and pick-up times
- Recruiting lollipop wardens to assist children in crossing roads safely
- Conducting monthly community sensitization through radio talk shows on Radio Pacis FM
Challenges
According to Mr. Sam Bambaza, ROSACU’s General Secretary, many organizations face persistent challenges, including limited funding, weak infrastructure, low awareness—particularly in rural areas—low parental engagement, and competing school priorities. These challenges continue to hinder the effective implementation of road safety interventions.
“Through united action, every stakeholder—government, schools, parents, and communities—must rise to the challenge of making school zones safe. This is Uganda’s urgent call to action: no child should ever lose their life on the way to learn. We must act now—embed road safety in education, upgrade school-zone infrastructure, scale up the national platform, and mobilize every parent, teacher, and leader. Together, we can end these preventable tragedies and raise a generation rooted in a strong culture of road safety,” said Mr. Bambaza.