Last Week on Friday, a minibus registration number UBA 839B transporting pupils of Trust Infant Primary School in Nakasake District crashed at Nkumba traffic lights.
It was reported that the driver lost control after he failed to brake upon seeing the first traffic lights.
The accident was not the only unfortunate incident to occur at Nkumba traffic lights.
The same spot claimed the life of lawyer Raphael Okiot in April this year after a concrete mixer truck failed to brake, lost control, and fell on his car.
Barely two days after the incident, the driver of a coaster lost control and rammed into other cars at the same traffic lights.
The scene has become a notorious accident hotspot as drivers from Kampala often fail to notice the first traffic lights and only spot the second ones as they approach the Nkumba University stage, leading to a heightened risk of crashing.
In response to the crashes, UNRA has conducted a technical inspection of the area to implement measures aimed at preventing future crashes.
The Authority said it has introduced interim safety measures to enhance traffic flow and improve safety for all road users.
“The current setup includes two traffic signals positioned approximately 100m apart, operating on different cycles,” said UNRA on Monday.
“This configuration has been identified as a safety risk as motorists are more likely to see the second traffic signal before the first one. Additionally, the first set of signals is situated after a crest, creating a short sight-stopping distance for vehicles traveling above 50 km/hr,” the agency added.
“To mitigate this risk, we will be removing the first set of traffic signals on the Kampala side and closing the median opening with jersey barriers as a temporary solution. This continuous median barrier will also prevent pedestrian crossovers and facilitate uninterrupted flow of traffic at the junction.”
As a result of these changes, vehicles from Kampala towards Entebbe will no longer be able to turn at this location.
Instead, right-turning traffic will be redirected to the next junction with traffic lights, thereby reducing the risk of accidental turns at this section.
Motorists from Entebbe that were previously making a right turn to connect to Nkumba University area will now need to proceed to the Mpala interchange, where they can turn around and return to Nkumba.
For long-term safety improvements, UNRA has proposed the construction of a footbridge at the location to ensure safe pedestrian crossing without interfering with vehicular traffic flow.