news 7 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
New Law Proposed to Ensure Drivers Fully Compensate Road Crash Victims
Uganda's Ministry of Works and Transport is developing new legislation that will introduce specialized 'accident victim assessors'. These professionals will investigate crash scenes, determine fault, and calculate the full financial damages, including lost income, to ensure victims or their families receive adequate compensation. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/new-law-to-compel-drivers-to-fully-pay-off-road-crash-victims-5450094
The Ministry of Works and Transport is preparing to introduce a new law aimed at increasing accountability for road crashes. The proposed legislation will establish a cadre of professionals known as accident victim assessors, or transport assessors.
These assessors will be empowered to take charge at crash scenes, meticulously investigate the causes of accidents, and quantify the financial impact of both property damage and loss of life. Their findings will be crucial for court proceedings in compelling drivers to provide full compensation.
According to Mr. Winston Katushabe, the chief licensing officer at the ministry, this initiative seeks to address the persistent issue of road fatalities and ensure that victims receive justice. The assessors will calculate compensation based on factors such as a victim’s income and projected earnings up to the average life expectancy, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of lost financial potential.
The ministry believes that imposing stricter financial consequences for negligence will act as a significant deterrent on the roads. Alongside these reforms, a demerit points system for traffic offenses is also being considered, which could lead to driving license suspension.
The draft law is nearing completion, and the ministry plans to conduct extensive sensitization campaigns for the judiciary and the public before its implementation. These proposed changes come in response to concerns that current laws are insufficient in deterring traffic violations and securing appropriate compensation for victims, especially in cases of multiple fatalities where existing limits are considered too low.