Nansana's Hoima Road: A Daily Gauntlet for Pedestrians

For thousands of residents in Nansana, crossing Hoima Road is a daily gamble. What was once a highway has become the bustling main street of a rapidly growing municipality, lined with shops, homes, and businesses that necessitate constant crossing. However, the road’s infrastructure has not kept pace with this urban explosion.

Pedestrians often wait for up to 15 minutes for a gap in the relentless flow of traffic, resorting to split-second decisions that have a razor-thin margin for error. “Pedestrian crashes along the corridor are a daily occurrence,” stated resident Mike Kamya, noting that many incidents involving boda boda riders go unreported as victims are taken to private clinics rather than official channels.

While traffic police are stationed at key points like Lubigi and Masitowa, their focus is predominantly on managing vehicle flow, leaving pedestrians vulnerable. Even the few existing zebra crossings, like the one near Worship House church, are frequently ignored by motorists, including speeding truck drivers and reckless boda boda operators. Some residents ironically find solace in traffic jams, as gridlock offers a brief window to navigate the road.

The problem is compounded by the road’s original design as a national trunk road, ill-suited for its current role as a municipal artery. Despite calls for modifications, including a 2019 petition by Nansana authorities offering to co-fund redesign efforts, the road retains its outdated layout.

Community leaders and residents are appealing for urgent interventions such as pedestrian overpasses, timed traffic lights, and raised crossings, citing successful implementations on other major roads in Uganda. While the Ministry of Works and Transport acknowledges the growing safety concerns due to urban sprawl, their immediate focus remains on responsible road user behavior. The ministry has invited proposals for additional measures, but the current reality for Nansana’s pedestrians remains a daily struggle for survival on an inadequate and dangerous thoroughfare.

This dangerous situation in Nansana reflects a grim national trend, with pedestrian fatalities on Ugandan roads steadily increasing, highlighting an urgent need for infrastructure development that prioritizes human safety over vehicle throughput. According to the Uganda Police Force’s 2025 Annual Crime and Road Safety Report, a significant percentage of pedestrian deaths occur while attempting to cross roads, underscoring the critical need for safe crossing solutions.