4,000 Boda-boda complete 6 months training on road safety in greater Kampala

10 March 2023, 8:25 pm

Byamukama Alozious > byamukamaalozious1993@gmail.com

4,000 Boda-boda complete 6 months training on road safety in greater Kampala.The SAFE STEPS road safety campaign by Prudential Uganda and implemented by Uganda RedCross Society has today successfully ended.

The four thousand boda-boda riders within Kampala Metropolitan Area covering the 5 Divisions of Central, Makindye, Rubaga, Nakawa, Kawempe along with Wakiso,Entebbe and Mukono have been undergoing through 6 months training to ensure there is safety in their work spaces. Safe Steps campaign which started on 1st September 2023 was primarily aimed at promoting road safety, first aid, behavioral change and awareness among boda boda riders within greater Kampala.

The grand finale function held at Uganda Uganda Muscuim was grassed by Minister of works and Transport, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala who appreciated Red Cross and prudential for such a great work for having chosen the areas which is at risk. “I would like to thank prudential and red cross society for the initiative that intended to improve road safety. This intervention targeted one of the most at risk Road users that led to the death of 1404 motorcyclists and 552 passengers as reported in the annual traffic police 2022”.

Gen. Katumba added that Red cross and prudential has eased his work at the ministry through taking responsibility to gather and train the boda boda riders saying that Safety on the roads is a shared responsibility. In October 2022 the ministry of Works and Transport launched a National Road Safety Plan with the proposal of improving on road safety in line with the Global Action to implement the decade of Action. He added that there is a challenge of speed regulations though are yet to be developed under the road Act 2019 and pledged to ensure that these regulations be developed soon.

Mr. Kwesiga Robert, the Secretary General of the Uganda Red cross society said they partnered with Prudential to save lives of boda-boda riders who get crushes on the road through Safe Steps campaign to save lives.  Mr Kwesiga said already there are testimonies being registered from the trained riders in town and the hopes for the positive results.  Mr. Kwesiga appreciated Prudential for all the support during the journey of the completed 6 months.

He explained that the trainings were conducted between 3 to 5 days per session and that more members of the general public and other boda boda riders were reached through the media.

The trained boda-boda riders received certificates, helmets, reflector jackets and an I-commit sticker that declares road safety principles.

Globally, 1.35 million people are killed on the roads every year, including 500 children every day.Africa has the highest road fatality rate in the world and 44 percent of road traffic deaths are Pedestrians and cyclists. Although Africa has only 2 percent of the world’s cars, the continent accounts for 20 percent of road deaths worldwide.

In Uganda alone, According to the 2021 Annual Crime and Traffic/Road Safety report by Uganda Police Force in 2021, the number of crashes and crash fatalities on our roads remains unacceptably high, with an estimated 12,589 and 4,159 respectively.

The Chief Executive Officer Prudential in Uganda Mr. Tetteh  Ayitevie  said  is hopeful to see the positive results of the Safe Space Campaign . He said the 4,000 riders are able to give the first aid amongst themselves but also to others due to the skills attained during the 6 months training. He said the interest of Prudential in this project has been to educate on health and safety and are happy that 4000 have been trained on safety in the greater Kampala.

On of the beneficially ,Kivili Kanyike  who is also the boda- boda industry chairperson in kamapala  central  testified how the campaign has helped them to stay safe in greater kampala. He said they are able to use the skills to prevent crushes but also manage Post crushes to save lives.