Transport Minister Gen. Katumba flags off 3rd Safe Steps Training Campaign To Extend Road Safety & First Aid Skills To More Beneficiaries.
In 2024, the total of lives lost by Boda Boda Transport was 2,396. Out of this, 1,720 were riders while 1676 were passengers: ASP Kananura Michael Uganda Police Force
Drake Nyamugabwa
Following impactful training of the 1st and 2nd training campaigns, the Uganda Red Cross Society, in partnership with Prudential Uganda and other stakeholders, have launched the 3rd phase of the Safe Steps campaign aimed at equipping Boda Boda riders, Drivers, and have, according to Uganda Red Cross included first responders including traffic officers and wardens and expanded to more areas in Uganda in the new campaign.
According to the Uganda Police Force reports, they have indicated that in 2024, Uganda lost lives of up to 5,144 people to road accidents, and of the total number, half of the victims were caused by Boda Boda transport.
During the launch of the 3rd Safe Steps campaign, held on 4th March 2025 at Serena Hotel, the Minister of Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, while applauding Uganda Red Cross, Prudential, and partners for the different approaches towards ensuring safety on the roads, he called upon every citizen to be responsible when it comes to road accidents to save more lives.
The Minister said that the 3rd phase campaign focus on first aid training is timely and a bold step towards improving post-crash situation, while urging Boda Boda riders to take a keen interest in considering their business as a sustainable income-generating activity by reducing road crashes.
“Whose responsibility is it to keep you alive? The elementary thing we can do is use safety belts and helmets, among others. It's everyone’s responsibility to ensure that everyone is safe. We are working with UNBS to ensure the quality of helmets; we need ISO compliant helmets to reduce the severity,” he said
He pledged his support in mobilizing for corporate partners and tasked the Boda Boda leaders to improve their business through adherence to traffic regulations by the riders along the road like traffic lights, while eliminating bad practices like drug and alcohol use while on duty.
The Secretary General of the Uganda Red Cross Society, Mr. Robet Kwesiga, said that the last 2 successful training campaigns that emphasized road safety awareness were carried out in the metropolitan areas of Kampala, Mukono, Entebbe, and Wakiso, Mbarara, Masaka, and Mbale, among others.
He said that the 3rd training campaign has expanded to add more categories of people and areas in Uganda, including fast responders such as Traffic Officers, Wardens, and the Arua region with skills of road safety and first aid.
“In the 1st Phase, the training impacted over 4,000 in Kampala Metropolitan areas, while in the 2nd phase, the training was extended from Kampala Metropolitan to include Mbarara, Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara benefiting over 8,484 riders. The 3rd phase has expanded more to include Arua,” he said
Meanwhile, the CEO of Prudential Uganda, Mr. Tetteh Ayitevie, said that the disturbing road statistics 3 years ago compelled the insurance company to partner to protect and save lives, adding that the feedback from the community on Boda Boda riders giving first aid indicated that the people had welcomed the initiative and were supporting them.
He pledged continued investment in protecting lives and responsible behaviors on roads and said that the impact made by the previous training is a step in the right direction.
The launch event attracted other stakeholders, including the Uganda Police Force, Boda Boda Riders leadership, the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, The Media Partners, Safe Steps Road Safety Africa and Female and Male Boda Boda Riders, among others.
During the launch on Tuesday
