Experts train police commandants on effective response to needs of road crash victims & motor 3rd party claim compensation

 Various training experts from International Conference on the Great Lakes Region –Regional Training Facility (ICGLR- RTF), Uganda Police Force (UPF), Hope for Victims of Traffic Accidents (HOVITA), Uganda Insurers Association (UIA) among others have conducted a capacity building training of over 47 community liaison officers and traffic from the central region districts including Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono among others.

The 4 day training was aimed at strengthening the capacity of middle police commandants to effectively respond to victims/survivor`s needs of road crash, road safety management, motor third party claim compensation to strengthen prevention, referral and address the knowledge capacity gaps at individual level and institution level.

Facilitated by Tumusiime Robert, Regional Training Expert, ICGLR- RTF, Aisha Kayongo, National Training Expert, ICGLR-RTF/UPF, Sam Bambanza, Executive Director HOVITA and Juliet Igonu, Technical Manager UIA, the training according to the information accessed by this website was specifically intended to improve response to needs of road crash victims, road safety, and motor third party claim compensation through shared experience, knowledge and skills on fast tracking cases related to road crashes, road safety management and victim`s claim compensation.

While officiating at the training held from 13th- 16th September 2021, at Golf Course Hotel, Kampala, the Guest of honor Commandant Oketcho representing the IGP of Uganda Police Force IGP Okoth Ochola applauded the collaboration of UIA, UPD, NOVITA adding that the Uganda Police Force has a great interest in road safety management and fast trucking problems associated with road users.

“Its indeed a good experience to be in collaboration with the UIA and HOVITA to take part in the implementation of this 4 day training of police officers to effectively respond to needs of road crash victims, road safety , & motor third party claim compensation. UPF are keen on road safety management and road crash accidents to fast track and manage the problems associated with the road users” he said

During the training that was funded and organized by Uganda Insurers Association in collaboration with HOVITA and Directorate of Human Resource Development, and Uganda Police Force, participants discussed, and share practical lessons, skills, experience, knowledge , workable strategies for management of road crashes, road safety, motor third party claim compensation and respond to needs of road crash victims through application of police approach, medical approach and victim centered approach respectively.

The ICGLR Regional Training Expert, Tumusiime Robert in picture above while making a presentation stated that the aim of the training was to strengthen the capacity of community liaison officers & Traffic officers targeting middle police commandants Police officers to effectively respond to victims/survivor`s needs of road crash, road safety management and motor third party claim compensation.

He also delivered to participants different topical issues including Introduction to road safety mgt, and road crashes victims/survivors, Understanding the key relevant concepts, causes and form of road crashes, & road safety measures in Uganda, the legal framework for addressing of road safety management, road crash victims & claim compensation, the Referral pathway for addressing road crash victims and victims claim compensation among others.

Paul Kavuma CEO, Uganda Insurer Association (UIA), in his remarks said that it’s the mandate of UIA to promote best practices and the highest standards within the Ugandan Insurance sector safeguarding the consumer`s best interests through campaigns that show the relevancy of motor third party insurance under the Motor Third Party Compensation projects

“The UIA stepped up a campaign to continue to show the relevancy of the Motor Third Party Insurance. The milestones of the year achievement a midst COVID 19 pandemic included the launch and use of the Motor Third Party payment platform. Therefore, the Motor Third Party Insurance Compensation project undertaken by the association took a three- pronged approach to promote road safety and the rights to safe roads for users and victims of road crashes” he said

He said that the training responds to UIA project objectives namely; Creating awareness and education for the consumers of Motor Third Party Insurance Services; providing quick and efficient processing of road crash victims insurance with minimal procedures; Following up on road crash survivors; providing free information to victims and affected families; Promoting road safety campaigns to reduce road deaths and injuries.

Executive Director, HOVITA, Sam Bambanza, mentioned that HOVITA was established to strengthen capacity of road safety stakeholders through awareness campaign while conducting training and sensitization on road safety, victims’ rights in Uganda including training of traffic officers on crash investigations, medical officer on Motor Insurance and Victims among others

According to the Uganda Police Force annual report released in April 2021, the number of traffic accidents reported in Uganda in 2020 decreased from 12,858 in 2019 to 12,249 in 2020 representing only 4.7% decrease.

Uganda is a signatory to the UN Resolution on Decade of Action for road safety 2011-2020 which sets a target of 50% reduction on the forecast level of road traffic accident deaths.

The goal of the resolution set by the UN general Assembly in March 2010 is: “stabilizing and then reducing the forecasted level of road traffic fatalities around the world by increasing activities conducted at national, regional and global levels. The resolution calls upon Member States to implement road safety activities, particularly in the areas of road safety management, road infrastructure, vehicle safety, road user behaviour, road safety education and the post-crash response”