Roadworthy School Transport Key to Ending Preventable Child Deaths – UNICEF

July 22, 2026 in by Editor

UNICEF Representative to Uganda, Dr Robin Nandy

UNICEF has urged schools to use only roadworthy, licensed vehicles for transporting learners following a series of fatal road crashes, saying every child has the right to travel to school and return home safely.

UNICEF has called for the use of only roadworthy vehicles to transport school children following a series of fatal road crashes that have claimed the lives of learners in Uganda.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, UNICEF said every child has the right to travel to school and return home safely, describing road safety as a child rights issue linked to survival, education and a safe environment.

The UN agency expressed condolences to families, schools and communities affected by the recent accidents, saying the deaths were preventable.

UNICEF welcomed the Government’s efforts to tighten enforcement of traffic regulations and the Ministry of Education and Sports’ decision to suspend school trips while strengthening guidelines governing school travel.

It said schools should use only roadworthy, licensed vehicles operated by qualified and well-rested drivers. The agency also urged schools to carry out proper risk assessments and ensure adequate teacher supervision throughout every journey.

UNICEF Representative to Uganda, Dr Robin Nandy, said no parent should send a child to school and never see them return home.

“These are preventable deaths, and every child lost on Uganda’s roads is one too many,” he said.

Beyond improving the condition of school transport vehicles, Dr Nandy called for stronger measures to reduce speeding near schools, provide safer pedestrian crossings and walkways, and improve emergency medical response following road crashes.

The agency noted that road traffic injuries remain the leading cause of death among children and adolescents aged between five and 19 globally, with low- and middle-income countries accounting for the highest burden.

It added that reducing vehicle speeds can significantly improve survival rates, noting that a child struck by a vehicle travelling at 30 kilometres per hour has a far greater chance of survival than one hit at 50 kilometres per hour.