By Chris Mugasha
As Ugandans gears up for the coming Christmas festive season, government has cautioned all road users to avoid conducting themselves in a manner that exposes and undermines the rights of others to safely use the shared road space.
According to police records, during the last year’s festive season, close to 50 lives were lost in the period from 23rd December 2023 to 1st January 2024.
“My humble appeal to you fellow Ugandans is that, let this year’s festive season be different, no matter how we choose to spend it,” the Minister for Works and transport Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala appealed in a Road Safety message for the Festive Season that was released on Friday.
“Our combined efforts first as road users can ensure a safer festive season for everyone. We all have a duty to practice responsible behaviors on our roads,” Katumba said.
The Minister wants every Ugandan especially those travelling to plan their journeys in advance so that it can give them adequate time to travel well.
Katumba said that one of the primary concerns during this season though, is the increased traffic that affects travel times thus influencing road users to speed or engage in reckless road user behaviors, unfortunately impacting negatively on road travel.
The Minister cautioned drivers against driving while under the influence of alcohol, avoid speeding and dangerous driving maneuvers and to make use of the car seatbelts and child restraint.
Caption: From Left, Commissioner Winstone Katushabe, Police’s Director Traffic and Road Safety Lawrence Nuwabiine and Minister for works and Transport Gen.Edward Katumba at Uganda’s media centre where they released this year’s Christmas road safety message.
Katumba further noted that during this rainy season, drivers should be cautious on wet road surfaces to ovoid skidding and also avoid driving
through flooded road sections.
The Minister went ahead to caution the pedestrians stressing that they are too vulnerable to carelessly cross or use the road. “Cross the road when it is safe for you and avoid using the main carriage way. Always cross at Zebra crossings,” the Minister advised.
Katumba directed that all buses whose journeys are beyond 300km shall not have return journeys within 24hours.
“Only buses with valid route charts and valid PSV licenses shall be allowed to operate and no school bus shall be allowed or any private vehicle that is not authorized by the Ministry to carry passengers for hire shall be allowed to operate.”
According to the Minister, the traffic police has been directed to step up enforcement across the country through the festive season with a focus on keeping the road safe.
He stressed that the Ministry of Works and Transport is committed to continue working with all stakeholders like Uganda Police Force, government MDAs, Private Sector, Religious institutions, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Media, Transport Operators to carryout Public education on road safety awareness campaigns through various platforms.
“Intensify enforcement operations on reckless driving, speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, driving without driving licenses, riding without helmet and reflector jacket,” the Minister said as he directed the traffic police.
The Minister encouraged all road users to take heed of the road safety Campaign messages by all stakeholders and to play their respective part
and take responsibility for their own safety and safety of other road users.
“Road Safety begins with you and LIFE lS A GIFT – therefore, guard it jealously. Every death on our roads is tragic and brings with it a trail of trauma and pain.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of works and Transport (Uganda Driver Licensing System has won this year’s award topping as a government’s Agency of the year.
Caption: Winstone Katushabe (in tie), the Commissioner of Transport Regulation and Safety/Chief Licensing Officer of Motor Vehicles in the Ministry of Works and Transport and other officials receiving the award.
This was at the Private Sector Foundation Annual Awards Gala Dinner at Serena Hotel in Kampala. The Award was received by Winstone Katushabe, the Commissioner of Transport Regulation and Safety/Chief Licensing Officer of Motor Vehicles in the Ministry of Works and Transport. End.
