Over 1,400 Pupils in Mbale Empowered on Road Safety

Over 1,400 Pupils in Mbale Empowered on Road Safety

Uganda – 24th February 2026 – The two-day Road Safety Sensitization Program, “Safe Kids, Safe Future,” was successfully conducted in Mbale City on 19-20 February 2026, reaching over 1,400 pupils in high-traffic schools, including Wanyera P/S and Bright Parents Junior Primary School.

The program focused on promoting safe road-use discipline, covering responsible road behavior, pedestrian safety, helmet use, traffic signs, and innovative smart road enforcement solutions.

“This initiative equips young Ugandans with the knowledge and skills to prevent road accidents and save lives,” noted Sarah Nahabwe, ITMS CSR-consultant. Impact was significant: average awareness scores increased from 30% before the sessions to 95% after, with pupils pledging to form road safety clubs and teachers reporting improved attentiveness.

The “Safe Kids, Safe Future” Mbale activation marks the start of a three-month charity campaign held in partnership with the Traffic Directorate of the Uganda Police Force, Ministry of Works and Transport and initiated by the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS).

“Safe Kids, Safe Future-2026” is running from February to April 2026. The initial sessions were piloted last year in the Kampala Metropolitan area.

Voices from the Schools:
Mitchele Atugonza, Head Prefect at Wanyera Primary School, said, “It enlightened us on what we had missed out in classroom lessons on road safety.”

Milly Namataka, Head Teacher, added, “Drivers are reckless and are not sympathetic to school-going children.” She requested Mbale City Authority place a zebra crossing near the school and expressed gratitude: “We would like to thank the Directorate of Traffic Police, the Ministry of Works and Transport, and ITMS for teaching us about road safety.”

During the sessions, ITMS officers led interactive discussions and demonstrations covering basic road safety rules, the meaning and interpretation of traffic signs, and the dangers of speeding, careless riding, and unsafe pillion riding. To reinforce learning outcomes, safety materials – including reflector jackets, signal bracelets, helmets, and road safety bookmarks – will be distributed to participating schools.

“Every day, Uganda loses two school-going children due to reckless driving. We are happy that ITMS cares about kids’ safety both via CSR activities like today and by providing smart transport solutions. Together, we can make Ugandan roads safer,” Michael Kananura, the Traffic Directorate’s Spokesperson.

As schools reopen for the academic term, the message from Mbale is clear: road safety begins with awareness – and every child deserves a safe journey to and from school.