The Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA), led by Vice Chairman Central Ibrahim Kitatta, recently presented an issues paper and recommendations on the Speed Limit Regulations, 2024, to Hon. Gen. Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport. In a powerful presentation, ULGA emphasized the need for a more decentralized approach to speed management, arguing that the current regulations undermine local government autonomy and are inconsistent with established legal frameworks.
In his opening remarks, Vice Chairman Kitatta commended the Ministry of Works and Transport for enacting the Traffic and Road Safety (Prescription of Speed Limits) Regulations, 2024. The regulations, published on February 14, 2025, in the Uganda Gazette, demonstrate the government’s commitment to road safety and align with the National Road Safety Action Plan (NRSAP) 2021/2022–2025/26. This plan seeks to reduce road crash fatalities and injuries by 25% by the year 2026 through a globally recognized Safe Systems Approach.
Despite these positive strides, current statistics reveal alarming road safety concerns. Over 4,000 lives are lost annually to road crashes, with a worrying increase of 16% in fatalities since 2021. In 2024 alone, road crash deaths surged by 7%, from 4,806 in 2023 to 5,144 in 2024. Vulnerable road users motorcyclists, pedestrians, and pedal cyclistsaccounted for 84% of fatalities. Careless overtaking and speeding were the leading causes of road crashes in 2023 and 2024, contributing to 52% and 44.5% of all incidents, respectively.
While ULGA recognizes the positive intent of the new regulations, it raises critical concerns about the over-centralization of speed limit enforcement. Regulation 2(5) requires local governments to formally request permission from the Minister of Works and Transport to reduce speed limits on roads within their jurisdiction. This requirement contradicts the principle of decentralization, as enshrined in the Constitution of Uganda (Article 176(2)) and the Local Governments Act (Cap 138).
Impact on Local Government Authority
Local governments, designated as Road Authorities under the Roads Act Cap 346, have the statutory responsibility for road safety, maintenance, and management within their jurisdictions. However, the new regulations hinder their ability to independently manage speed limits on District Urban Community Access Roads (DUCAR), despite high-speed driving being a significant contributor to road accidents.
Furthermore, the regulations infringe upon the powers granted to local governments under Section 40(1) of the Local Governments Act CAP 138, which empowers them to make by-laws for good governance, including road safety measures. By requiring ministerial approval, the regulations undermine local authorities’ ability to promptly address road safety challenges.
ULGA contends that the Speed Regulations, 2024, contradict the Local Governments Act by ignoring the powers of local authorities over District Urban Community Access Roads. The regulations also lack a clear delegation of powers from the Ministry of Works and Transport, as required under Section 34(1) of the Local Governments Act.
The omission of meaningful consultations with local governments further weakens the legitimacy of the regulations. Despite participating in a consultation meeting on July 31, 2024, and submitting their views, local governments’ inputs were not reflected in the final draft. This disregard for stakeholder engagement violates principles of transparency, good governance, and participatory decision-making.
To address these challenges, ULGA advocates for:
- Empowering Local Governments: Decentralize speed limit management to allow local authorities to set and enforce limits based on real-time crash data and local road conditions.
- Improving Stakeholder Engagement: Ensure inclusive consultations to capture local government perspectives before finalizing regulations.
- Aligning with Global Best Practices: Follow international models like WHO and iRAP, which recommend decentralized, data-driven road safety strategies.
- Strengthening Legal Clarity: Amend regulations to respect local government mandates and avoid conflicting provisions.
- Enhancing Data-Driven Decision-Making: Integrate crash and road safety data into speed management policies to inform evidence-based interventions.
The ULGA leadership, represented by Vice Chairman Central Ibrahim Kitatta, emphasizes that empowering local governments to manage speed limits will enhance efficiency, responsiveness, and road safety. By decentralizing decision-making, Uganda can reduce road fatalities and ensure that local contexts and road conditions are adequately addressed.
ULGA remains committed to advocating for a more decentralized and participatory approach to road safety management, emphasizing the need for collaboration between central and local governments. Addressing the current regulatory gaps will strengthen the capacity of local authorities to safeguard lives on Uganda’s roads.
