Crispin Kaheru
By Crispin Kaheru, Member
Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC)
Road crashes should not be news headlines. They should be a national wake-up call. Many of these crashes are preventable and represent weaknesses in protecting the right to life. Every Ugandan has the right to leave home and return safely. That is why it is important to continue advancing a security-led human rights approach, preventing harm before it happens, not simply responding after tragedy strikes.
We should commend the Police and other law enforcement organs when they enforce traffic laws, remove unroadworthy vehicles and stop reckless driving. They are protecting the right to life.
Schools, engineers, transport operators and drivers all have a duty to put safety first. By doing so, they join in the effort of being defenders of human rights. Every preventable road death is a human rights failure. Every crash prevented is a human rights victory.
The recent accidents must drive stronger enforcement, safer transport standards, regular vehicle inspections, disciplined driving and continuous public education. Protecting life before it is lost is the highest expression of both security and human rights. That is the Uganda we must build.
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