Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport has commended the Uganda Red Cross Society and Prudential Uganda for improving road safety in Uganda at the launch of the Safe Steps campaign in Kampala.
The Safe Steps campaign is aimed at promoting road safety awareness and improving behavior among motorcyclists in the areas of Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, and Entebbe for a period of six months.
According to the Minister, the campaign has come at a time when road crashes involving motorcycles are continuing to increase in the country since 2014 as per the latest traffic police report.
“Out of the 4,159 people killed in 2021road crushes, 1,390 were motorcyclists a figure that implies that motorcycle riders are at a very high risk of death” Katumba added.
The traffic police report of 2021 also indicated that there was a slight increase in the seriously injured road users and those killed compared to the figures of 2020 and this was attributed mostly to their behavior while using the road.
“The Uganda Red Cross has always been a stakeholder in road safety with a lot of support towards post-crash response and first aid, I encourage you to continue this good work and I pledge government’s commitment towards improving road safety with you” Katumba emphasized.
Amongst the key principles emphasized in the Decade of Action, is the need for partnerships between governments and various stakeholders which today’s launch has clearly illustrated.
The Ministry’s top management team approved the National Road Safety Action Plan which details various interventions that include the continued road safety audits, and the plan to develop and implement an automated driver training and testing system among others.
Currently, Uganda is implementing the second United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety which set a target of reducing road crash deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.
Irene Nakasita the spokesperson of the Uganda Red cross society highlighted that this campaign that will target about 10,000 personnel is intended at equipping motorcyclists with first aid and life-saving skills to support one another on the road.
“After a period of six months, we hope to see a difference while saving each other in case of any road accidents plus also a change in behavior and conduct of motorcycle cyclists within Kampala and the greater Kampala Metropolitan area” Nakasita articulated.
The Safe Steps campaign has come at a time when the Kampala City Council Authority is carrying out a motorcycle census in the city center aimed at enhancing the safety and security of motorcycles plus also organizing and regulating their operations.
