Uganda hosts African Make Roads Safe Conference

Uganda’s Minister of Transport, the Honourable John Nasasira was the guest of honour at the 2008 African Make Roads Safe Conference held in Kampala on 7th April. Hosted by the AA of Uganda the meeting was attended by governments, automobile clubs across the region, Parliamentarians, crash victims and international experts.

Hon Minister John Nasasira gives his keynote address

Chairman, David Njoroge speaking to the Conference

Bright Oyeya addressing the delegates

In his keynote address Minister Nasasira described road safety as a “national top priority issue” of the Ugandan Government and a “growing worldwide concern”. With road traffic having increased by over 90% since 2000, Uganda is facing a growing toll of road traffic injuries. Last year there were 14, 390 crashes with 2,2334 fatalities and 9,277 serious injuries. Pedestrians account for more than 1000 of the fatalities. The Minister highlighted the action his government is taking to reduce road injuries through a combination of tougher enforcement of traffic safety rules, public awareness and safer road infrastructure. He stressed that it now the time to ensure that all road infrastructure investments have road safety impact assessments included at the design stage as is common practice for environmental aspects of such projects. The Minister also praised the work of the FIA Foundation, World Bank and the WHO to support global road safety programmes and encouraged close cooperation as Uganda develops its national road safety strategy.

Giving a more regional perspective Government representatives from Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe gave national presentations on their road safety situation and policies and Tidjani Chetina of the United Nations Economic Commission from Africa highlighted the commitment of African Transport Ministers to achieve a 50% reduction in road traffic fatalities by 2015. This commitment was included in the Accra Declaration adopted by Ministers at the 4th African Road Safety Congress in Ghana last year.

The Kampala meeting was chaired by David Njoroge, the African member of the Commission for Global Road Safety and the Director General of the AA Kenya. Auto clubs from eleven African countries also participated and much appreciated the excellent hosting of the event under the leadership of John Mutenda, the President of the AA Uganda. Also speaking at the event was David Ward of the FIA Foundation and John Mumford of the International Road Assessment Programme. Very moving addresses were also given by Casey Marenge and Bright Oyeya, who were both disabled as a result of road crashes in Kenya but have founded Chariots of Destiny to campaign for road safety. The meeting unanimously adopted recommendations in support of the goal of reducing the regions fatalities by 50% by 2015. Closing the Conference, the Honourable Nahan Byanyima MP pledged the strong commitment of Uganda’s Parliament to road safety action both nationally and globally.

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