Uganda is mourning another life lost to the country’s growing road carnage crisis, as Angella Namirembe, a relative to Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze Bakireke, died in a tragic boda boda accident early Monday morning.
Namirembe, who was pursuing law at Makerere University, was reportedly en route to school when the accident occurred.
“It is with profound sadness that I announce the untimely passing of our beloved daughter, Namirembe Angella, a law student at Makerere University. She has tragically lost her life in a boda boda accident this morning,” MP Nambooze shared on her official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The MP further stated that her daughter’s body had been taken to Uganda Funeral Services, with burial arrangements to be communicated soon.
“We entrust Namirembe’s soul to the Lord, thanking Him for the time we had with her. May she rest in peace,” she added.
The tragic news has drawn an outpouring of grief and condolences from different people.
Boda Bodas: A Deadly Convenience?
Namirembe’s untimely death shines a harsh light on Uganda’s worsening road safety crisis, particularly the danger posed by boda bodas, a popular but often perilous mode of transport for millions of people countrywide.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2024: 4,806 people died in road crashes across the country.
Of these, over 46% involved boda bodas, either as riders, passengers, or victims of collisions.
Boda boda accidents also accounted for nearly 70% of all serious injuries reported on Uganda’s roads.
Despite their convenience especially during peak hours, boda bodas have become a major contributor to Uganda’s road carnage, driven by poor regulation, lack of enforcement, reckless riding, and limited safety gear use.
Road safety advocates say that Namirembe’s death is yet another tragic reminder to regulate boda boda operations countrywide.
They argue that boda bodas continue to flout traffic laws, and majority of the riders are not professionally trained, like other car drivers.
They call for tougher regulations and public awareness before more young lives are lost.
As the public demands answers, it’s important to note that the Traffic and Road Safety Directorate has been actively involved in campaigns to curb road carnage.
The Directorate continues with nationwide awareness campaigns targeting motorists, school children, and other road users, it has repeatedly urged motorcycle drivers and passengers to wear helmets to reduce head injuries, advised all vehicle passengers to always wear seatbelts, and also emphasize the importance of respecting traffic signs, observing speed limits, and driving responsibly.
