A new programme geared towards empowering communities to monitor road safety has been launched in Mayuge and Bugiri districts.
Over 1,000 volunteers from the two districts have been trained to use mobile phones to monitor road safety in their areas.
According to reports, over 70% of the patients admitted in major hospitals in urban centres are due to road carnage, the majority due to boda boda accidents.
Over 3,000 people die in road accidents annually.
Dr. Steven Kasiima, the Police Commissioner for Road Safety says most of the accidents in the country are due reckless driving and speeding.
Richard Ssewakiryanga, the executive director Uganda National NGO Forum said most Ugandans do not know how to safeguard the roads.
“All Ugandans are capable of doing is rioting when the roads are bad, but they never monitor the state of the roads during and after construction. That is why this programme is important,” he said at the commissioning of Friends for Roads Project in Uganda in Mayuge district on Tuesday.
He said the volunteers have been trained to monitor road maintenance and road safety and report back to the district authorities using their mobile phones.
Omar Bongo, the Mayuge district chairman said the district will utilise the programme to curb road carnage in the district.
“We shall ensure that the pilot project is successful so that it can be rolled out to other districts in the country,” he said.
Patrick Mudoi, the Mayuge Town Clerk said they will utilise the programme to sensitise the residents on the importance of road signs.
Sophie Kange, the project coordinator for capacity development at the NGO Forum said the one year pilot programme, funded by CrossRoads Uganda, will help curb road carnage along the highways and community roads.
By Patrick Jaramogi, The New Vision
