Over 80 arrested in Kampala drunk-driving swoop

KAMPALA - Police in Kampala arrested 84 people in a surprise operation targeting drunk drivers on Saturday night. The move is part of ongoing efforts to improve road safety and reduce alcohol-related accidents.

Traffic and Road Safety spokesperson Michael Kananura said the suspects were detained at six police stations following the citywide operation.

Jinja Road Police Station recorded the highest number of arrests with 19, followed by Katwe with 18. Old Kampala registered 14, Kawempe and Nansana each had 12, while the Central Police Station reported 9.

“The suspects are currently in custody, undergoing standard processing procedures, which include statement recording, fingerprinting, and preparation for court proceedings,” Kananura stated.

He added, “We strongly urge all drivers to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol. This behaviour poses a serious risk to all road users and is one of the leading causes of road traffic accidents.”

Penalties for drunk driving are among the most severe under the country’s traffic and road safety regulations. First-time offenders may face fines of up to 500,000 shillings, mandatory court appearances, and possible licence suspension for up to six months.

Despite efforts by road safety activists to raise awareness about responsible driving, many motorists continue to ignore the dangers associated with reckless and drunk driving. Uganda loses an average of 14 lives each day to road crashes, with many of these incidents linked to alcohol impairment and dangerous driving.

Rising crashes

The 2024 Annual Crime Report, released in March, indicated that 5,144 people were killed in road crashes during the year—representing a 7% increase from the 4,806 deaths recorded in 2023. Additionally, 17,013 people sustained serious injuries in 2024 due to road accidents, marking a 1.7% rise.

The report also noted a 6.4% increase in the number of reported road crashes in 2024, rising from 23,608 in 2023 to 25,107. The number of fatal crashes grew by 6.1%, from 4,179 in 2023 to 4,434 in 2024. Serious crashes increased by 5.2%, from 12,487 in 2023 to 13,134, while minor crashes rose by 8.6%, from 6,942 in 2023 to 7,539 in 2024.

Fatal crashes involve at least one death, serious crashes involve injuries without fatalities, and minor crashes result only in vehicle damage with no injuries or deaths.

According to the report, December registered the highest number of crashes at 2,445, while April recorded the lowest with 1,863. The report also noted that more crashes occurred on Sundays than any other day of the week in 2024, followed by Saturdays and Mondays.