Government, NGOs rally public for road safety marathon to improve emergency response

13 May 2025, 11:07 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

As part of efforts to promote road safety awareness in Uganda, the Ministry of Works and Transport, in partnership with Legacy Road Safety Initiative and other stakeholders, has organised a road safety marathon set to take place at Old Kampala Secondary School on May 31st.

Speaking to journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the Minister of State for Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, emphasised the significance of the event. He noted that participants would pay a fee of UGX 30,000, which will go towards purchasing a marathon kit.

“Road users must pay attention to road signs and regulations,” Hon. Byamukama stated. “Funds from the marathon will support the training of first responders in rescue skills. These are the people who assist at accident scenes, especially since there is currently no officially designated facility for accident emergencies.”

The Minister urged all Ugandans, including members of the media, to participate in the marathon.

Addressing broader transport challenges, Byamukama acknowledged budget constraints that have delayed road tarmacking but assured the public that the government is working to secure the necessary funds. He also proposed a structural shift in how taxi operations are managed.

“We want taxi operators to form associations based on routes like in other countries rather than operating from random stages. For example, taxis using Gayaza Road should belong to a ‘Gayaza Drivers’ Association’. Soon, we will phase out current stage names such as ‘Gayaza Stage’ to improve regulation and accountability,” he explained.

He added that reckless drivers will face a fine of UGX 10,000, similar to penalties applied in other countries. Byamukama also warned vehicle owners to ensure timely transfer of ownership, as authorities will refer to names in the logbook in case of accidents, in collaboration with Uganda Police.

Meanwhile, Owere Richard, Executive Director of Legacy Road Safety Initiative, emphasised that road safety is a shared responsibility.

“As a non-governmental organisation, we advocate for safer roads and sustainable mobility, especially among the youth. The number of road fatalities continues to rise, and that’s not acceptable. We are promoting the goal of zero road deaths because even one life lost is one too many. We call on all Ugandans to participate in this noble cause on May 31st,” he said.

In a related development, Njumba Samuel, Vice Chairman of the Sweet Potato Traders Association, urged the Ministry of Works and Transport to speed up road construction, particularly on highways, where delays are affecting business.

“We appreciate the rehabilitation efforts, but we ask the ministry to increase the pace of road works. Many of our goods are perishable, and poor road conditions make transportation difficult. The government should factor this into all rehabilitation plans,” Njumba said.

He also highlighted the rising cost of sweet potatoes due to scarcity, explaining that Uganda imports a large portion of its sweet potatoes from Tanzania and Kenya. Border delays and high charges, he said, are a major challenge.

“These goods are perishable. Delays at the borders cause spoilage. We therefore appeal to the government to engage clearing agents who often inflate charges unnecessarily,” he added.