As the world marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April, public discourse often gravitates toward high-profile cases and courtroom battles. Yet, beneath this spotlight lies a quieter, more pervasive crisis unfolding daily in our cities: transit sexual assault. For thousands of women, public transportation is not a convenience, it is a lifeline. It connects them to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity. Globally and locally, women rely more heavily on public transport than men, making safe, accessible transit a cornerstone of gender equality. But for many, the daily commute has morphed from a routine journey into an exercise in endurance. From Kampala’s 14-seater taxis to minibuses and boda bodas, public transport systems are engineered for efficiency, not safety. Within these crowded, often unregulated spaces, sexual harassment has become disturbingly normalized. Yet the majority of these incidents go unreported. “Most women don’t report because the system isn’t built to take ‘touching’ seriously,” says Mary, a regular commuter from Gayaza to Kampala. “If you speak up, you’re dismissed or mocked. You just want to reach your destination and forget it happened.” Her experience reflects a broader reporting gap. Unlike overt physical assault, forms of harassment such as groping, inappropriate comments, or non-consensual contact are routinely minimized by bystanders and transport operators alike. They are dismissed as inconveniences of congestion rather than violations of dignity. This culture of dismissal forces victims into strategic silence. Women weigh the cost of speaking out against the likelihood of ridicule or escalation and often choose to endure in silence. While no woman is immune, one group stands particularly exposed: students. University and secondary school students frequently travel during peak hours, late evenings, or early mornings. Limited financial means and lack of private transport leave them almost entirely dependent on public systems. For these young women, a simple trip to class becomes a calculated risk. Hyper-vigilance replaces ease. Every glance, every movement in a crowded vehicle is assessed. The perpetrator, emboldened by anonymity and proximity, exploits the victim’s hesitation to “cause a scene.” The consequences extend far beyond the moment of violation. Transit harassment shapes life decisions. It influences the courses women choose, the jobs they accept, and the hours they are willing to work. Many are forced to spend scarce resources on safer, private transport options, effectively taxing their independence. This is not a gender-neutral issue. Men and women experience public spaces differently. While a man’s concerns may center on theft or delays, a woman’s primary concern is often her bodily autonomy. Sexual harassment in transit spaces is not merely about unwanted attention; it is an assertion of control. It sends a chilling message: that a woman does not fully belong in the public space. When left unaddressed, the impact ripples outward. A society that allows its transport systems to become hunting grounds for predators erodes its own moral foundation. Economic participation suffers as women avoid certain jobs or working hours. Communities grow desensitized, normalizing behaviour that should provoke outrage. A culture that mocks a woman for protesting harassment is a culture in decline. Awareness campaigns in April are important, but they are not enough. Meaningful change requires structural intervention. Transport operators must be trained and held accountable for passenger safety. Policies that trivialize harassment or encourage informal settlements must be abolished. Infrastructure improvements, such as better lighting in transit hubs, alongside technology-driven reporting mechanisms, can create safer environments. But perhaps most importantly, we must shift the narrative. From asking, “Why didn’t she move?” To demanding, “Why did he feel entitled to violate her?” Until that question becomes central to our response, the silent commute will continue, and with it, the quiet suffering of countless women. The writer is a journalist and communications expert najjukawhitney03@gmail.comThe post The Silent Commute: Unmasking the epidemic of transit sexual assault appeared first on The Observer.