Makerere, Kyambogo Students Killed in Separate Road Crashes

Two university students have died in separate road accidents around Kampala, highlighting the growing toll of traffic crashes on young people amid rising fatalities nationwide.

Michael Kavuma Tevin, a graduate student at Makerere University’s College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), was confirmed dead in a statement issued by the college late Monday.

“The Principal, management, staff, and student community… regret to announce the passing of Kavuma Michael Tevin,” the statement said, without giving details of the incident.

In a separate case, Anita Cherotich Scovia, a second-year student at Kyambogo University, died after a boda-boda she was riding collided with a speeding vehicle in Bweyogerere.

Police said Cherotich died instantly at the scene and her body was taken to Mulago City Mortuary. The university confirmed she was pursuing a Bachelor of Environmental Science Technology and Management.

Police spokesperson SP Michael Kananura said in a public notice that authorities initially struggled to trace Cherotich‘a relatives following the crash.

The two deaths, reported within days of each other, have triggered concern among students and the wider public, with many pointing to the increasing dangers on Uganda’s roads.

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Rising fatalities

Uganda’s road safety crisis has deepened, with official data showing a steady rise in crashes and deaths.

Uganda recorded 26,044 road crashes in 2025, up from 25,107 in 2024, according to figures presented by Director of Traffic and Road Safety Lawrence Nuwabiine.

Fatal crashes increased to 4,602 from 4,434, while total deaths rose from 5,144 to more than 5,300.

“Males constitute 83% of all road traffic fatalities, while females account for only 17%,” Nuwabiine said.

Police attributed the trend partly to a 29.4% increase in vehicle numbers, reflecting rapid motorisation that has outpaced enforcement and safety controls.

Young people

Young people continue to bear the brunt of the crisis.

Those aged under 35 accounted for 56.2% of all deaths, according to police data, placing students and young workers among the most vulnerable.

“The high number of fatalities among young drivers is largely due to incompetence and risky behaviour,” the report said.

Road safety experts say boda-bodas, speeding, and reckless overtaking remain key contributors to fatal crashes, especially in urban areas like Kampala and Wakiso.

The deaths of Kavuma and Cherotich underscore the human cost behind the statistics, with universities now mourning yet another loss of young lives.

Investigations into the two incidents are ongoing.