Mukono District Local Government has intensified efforts to strengthen emergency response to road crashes through a high-level stakeholder engagement aimed at advancing the Bystander Protection (Good Samaritan) Ordinance, 2026.
The meeting, convened by the District Health Department, brought together officials from the traffic police, political leadership, religious leaders, health professionals, and other key stakeholders to refine a legal framework intended to protect and encourage citizens who offer immediate assistance to road crash victims.
The proposed ordinance seeks to eliminate fear and uncertainty that often prevent bystanders from helping injured persons at crash scenes. It aims to improve coordination among bystanders, medical personnel, police, and emergency responders, ultimately reducing response time and saving lives.
“BE IT ORDAINED by Mukono District Council, exercising its legislative powers under the Local Government Act (Cap. 243), that the following provisions shall have the force of law within Mukono District,” the draft ordinance reads.
Among its key objectives, the ordinance seeks to harmonize the collection, treatment, and sharing of post-crash data, while establishing clear Good Samaritan protections at all levels of emergency care. Once enacted, it is expected to serve as a strong advocacy tool for post-crash patient safety and significantly reduce road crash-related fatalities.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Ddamba Henry, the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Ms. Namboozo Fulatu, commended stakeholders for their commitment to developing the ordinance. She noted that Mukono District’s location along major transport corridors expose it to frequent road crashes that claim many lives.
Ms. Namboozo observed that many victims die not due to lack of help, but because potential helpers fear legal repercussions. She emphasized that the ordinance comes at the right time to close these gaps and send a clear message that saving lives is a civic responsibility that should never attract punishment.
She urged stakeholders to fully support the process and reaffirmed the district’s commitment to ensuring the ordinance is enacted and implemented to protect both victims and lifesavers.
Dr. Denis Nabimanya, the Post-Crash Care Focal Person at the Ministry of Health, explained that the engagement was part of a broader effort to develop regulations that protect bystanders who often face intense questioning after assisting crash victims. He commended Mukono District for pioneering what could become the first Good Samaritan ordinance of its kind in Uganda.
Dr. Nabimanya emphasized the importance of integrating bystanders into the national emergency response and traffic safety framework.
He cautioned health facilities against overcharging for ambulance services and urged the District Health Team to develop clear, patient-friendly ambulance fuel charging guidelines based on distance covered.
He also called for proper systems to collect and document bystander data and to harmonize police procedures with emergency medical response to minimize conflicts during post-crash care.
Adding to the discussion, ASP Onen Francis, the Division Traffic Officer for Mukono, clarified that police guidelines require recording statements from bystanders mainly to establish whether they are connected to an incident.
He acknowledged that while due process is necessary, police must engage the public politely and professionally to avoid discouraging lifesaving assistance.
Participants emphasized the need to build trust between the police and the public, calling for respectful handling of bystanders during emergency situations.
The stakeholder engagement marked a critical step toward establishing a protective and enabling legal environment for lifesaving action in Mukono District. Once enacted, the Bystander Protection (Good Samaritan) Ordinance, 2026, is expected to empower citizens to confidently assist road crash victims without fear of legal consequences, strengthen coordination among emergency responders, and significantly reduce preventable deaths.
Through collective commitment from government institutions, law enforcement, health professionals, and the community, Mukono District is positioning itself as a national leader in post-crash care and road safety reform.
