The Joe Walker team’s trek has embarked on their day four journey to Fort Portal tourism city after spending a night at Kyakatebe in Mubende district. Despite their determination, the walkers continue to face the tough reality of road safety challenges.
One member of the team described the walk as particularly challenging, highlighting the incomplete road construction as a significant hurdle. The road, lacking markings, guardrails, safety signs, and walkways, posed serious risks to both pedestrians and motorists.
Residents of Kigalama village, Myanzi sub-county in Mubende district, expressed their growing concerns about the lack of government intervention in addressing road safety issues. The infamous Kigalama Mpamujjugu swamp, which is well-known for people drawn there during the rainy season, continues to jeopardise the safety of locals. They added that pedestrians and residents find themselves in constant competition with speeding vehicles, further increasing the risks.
Calls for immediate action surfaced in every town, with residents pleading for the installation of speed humps and road traffic cameras to control and monitor reckless driving.
Kisembo, one of the traffic police officers in Myanzi, emphasised the alarming rate of accidents attributable to overspeeding. He, however, lamented the lack of necessary equipment to effectively enforce speed regulations.
He added that an average of two fatal accidents are registered in Kigalama, with approximately four people dying.
The road safety concerns of Joe Walker are a confirmation, which calls for urgency to address the situation.
Despite incremental improvements in road conditions, significant gaps in safety infrastructure persist. The ongoing construction, though promising, leaves much to be desired in terms of ensuring the safety of all road users.
School-going children are more at risk of being victims of accidents. Schools like St. Mathias Primary School, Kiddukulu Primary School, and Tante Rosa Schools, among others, have young kids that have to walk to and from school every day.
In an effort to advocate for safer roads and promote road safety awareness, a number of participants joined the walk from Kampala city to Fort Portal city, which commenced on Monday morning, February 26, 2024, with ardent discussions centred around the pressing need for improved road safety measures in Uganda.
The walk led by the passionate walker, Joseph Beyanga, commonly known as Joe Walker, gathered a diverse group of individuals, including esteemed guests such as the Minister for Works and Transport, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, who flagged off the walkers, Commissioner of Transport Regulation and Safety in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Winston Katushabe, representatives from Coca-Cola, the National Drug Authority (NDA), and other stakeholders.
As the journey progresses, the Joe Walker team remains vigilant while advocating for safer road conditions.
Through their perseverance and advocacy, they hope to inspire tangible change and contribute to the realisation of safer roads for all.
