Helmet guidebook to reduce boda boda fatalities launched

Kampala, Uganda | URN | To reduce road crash fatalities that claim14 Ugandans daily, the Ministry of Works and Transport has launched a new guidebook on proper helmet use for motorcycle riders and passengers.

The Ministry says boda bodas remain vital to transport across Uganda, bridging mobility gaps and supporting livelihoods. Yet they are also a leading cause of road deaths. According to the police’s 2025 Annual Crime Report, motorcyclists accounted for 2,525 of the 5,383 people killed in road crashes, translating to 14 deaths every day.

The Ministry, together with Safe Way Right Way, notes that wearing a certified motorcycle helmet can save up to 37% of lives and prevent 65% of serious head injuries. However, despite this, many riders and passengers either do not wear helmets or use them incorrectly.

Speaking at the launch of the Certified Motorcycle Helmet User Guide at the Ministry in Kampala, Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura noted that boda boda riders and passengers remain among the biggest victims of road crashes, many of which could be prevented through proper helmet use.

“Every report shows that motorcycle crashes are still a major problem that results in death,” Kananura said. “We can only reduce the number of deaths through proper helmet use, so that fatalities from head injuries which cause most deaths in crashes can be reduced.” He said the helmet’s standard matters just as much as wearing one, warning that fake helmets on the market put motorists at risk.

The Transport Ministry Commissioner Winstone Katushabe said the shocking number of Ugandans in the 18-45 working age brackets dying in road crashes is one of the biggest problems troubling the government.

He said the Ministry and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards are procuring new machines to test imported helmets locally, ensuring only those that meet standards enter the country.

“We visited Rwanda to understand how they streamlined the boda boda sector, and we found that their compliance is high at 99 percent,” Katushabe stated. “But we also found that when riders get into accidents, they still suffer dangerous head injuries. So we came up with the solution to examine the standards of helmets, which is not done there.”

Katushabe said the new guide book on proper helmet use and maintenance will help raise awareness among riders on how helmets cut crash fatalities. He also urged boda boda riders not to gamble with their health, warning that head injuries can force families to sell land to cover treatment costs at Mulago.

But Jose Kasekende, the chairperson of Mutasa Kafero boda boda stage, said the guidebook would only work if it is in local languages and more pictorial, since most of their colleagues cannot read or understand English properly.

The Ministry said the booklets will be distributed through the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to all gazetted boda boda stages, local government offices, and Traffic Police for onward distribution to riders and passengers.

The guidebook states that a motorcycle helmet must fit snugly and be securely fastened, sitting low on the forehead about two finger-widths above the eyebrows with the chin strap tight enough that only one or two fingers fit between the strap and the chin.

Share on: WhatsApp