The Joe Walker Trekkers, on February 29, 2024, their fourth day, have reported an uptick in road user recklessness as they are travelling to Fortportal.
The trekkers, who began their journey from Kampala to Fort Portal City on Monday morning, started with a sensitization session on road safety for students and teachers at Kyakatebe Primary School.
While at Kyakatebe Primary School, the Young Champions for Road Safety recounted their harrowing experiences of accidents during their daily commute to and from school.
According to the trekkers, it became apparent as the students were talking that many learners lack basic knowledge of road traffic guidelines, exacerbating road safety issues.
“We observed a recurring problem of makeshift markets encroaching upon roadways, which forced cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians to navigate through congested spaces. This competition for limited road space amplifies safety risks for all road users,” a trekker stated.
According to Joseph Beyanga, commonly known as Joe Walker, the more they pull away from the city and heavy urban developments, the more they see the recklessness of Boda Boda riders and other road users.
“From the conversations yesterday with taxi drivers and boda riders, the issue of overloading is all driven by economics and greed. But then why is the government watching on as people put their lives on the line?” Beyanga stated.
“Effective solutions lie in the hands of citizens and local government leaders who can enforce regulations to prevent the establishment of markets on roads. Kalamba Trading Centre serves as an example, defaced not only by its unkempt appearance but also by the rampant disregard for proper market zoning,” he added.
The Joe Walkers are providing a small part of the solution through advocacy and sensitization. With the known road safety challenges, both citizens and leaders must prioritise road safety and uphold urban planning standards.
The event commenced on Monday, February 26, 2024, with an enthusiastic gathering at the Independence Monument grounds in Kampala, which was flagged off by the Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, with participants engaging in impactful discussions centred around the pressing need for improved road safety measures throughout Uganda.