Road safety activists and boda boda riders on Saturday joined the second edition of the Boda Boda Walk in Kampala, aimed at promoting road safety and reducing deaths caused by motorcycle-related crashes.
The walk, organised by the Joe Walker Foundation under the theme “Ride the Streets, Own the Road: Walking with Boda Riders for Safer Journeys and Better Livelihoods,” started at Sheraton Kampala Hotel and was flagged off at 8:00am by KCCA Deputy Executive Director Benon Kigenyi.
The event brought together road safety activists, police officers, cyclists, boda boda riders, and members of the public to sensitise Ugandans on safe road use and the importance of discipline on the roads.
Speaking during the event, Joseph Beyanga, popularly known as Joe Walker, said the campaign seeks to ensure that every road user returns home safely.
“We are talking about one thing: how do we ensure that each one of us leaves home, rides, takes passengers, does whatever they need to do, and gets back home alive?” Beyanga said.
“Most of the time, we focus on the destination and forget the journey. Life is a journey taken in steps,” he added.
Beyanga noted that boda boda riders, cyclists, and pedestrians remain the most affected by road crashes in Uganda.
“When we look at the statistics before us, more than 94 percent of road crash victims are vulnerable road users. Motorcycles alone account for nearly half of road crash victims countrywide,” he said.
He warned that failure to address road safety concerns would continue costing families their loved ones.
“If we don’t do something about this situation, we are going to continue burying our brothers, fathers, mothers, and children,” he warned.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, Michael Kananura, said road crashes continue to claim thousands of lives every year.
“According to our 2025 police report, 5,383 people died in road crashes. These are not just statistics; they are human beings — widows, widowers, and orphans left behind,” Kananura said.
He revealed that boda boda riders and passengers accounted for 47 percent of all road crash fatalities last year.
“Riders and passengers alone accounted for 47 percent of the fatalities. This should remind boda boda riders to respect road rules and regulations,” he said.
Kananura also urged all road users to wear helmets and exercise discipline while using the roads.
“This helmet saves your life, not the police officer enforcing the law. Road safety remains a collective responsibility,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kigenyi said Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) continues to improve road infrastructure to make the city safer for both motorists and pedestrians.
“I am happy that today we have reclaimed the non-motorised transport corridor from Luwum Street to Namirembe. Kampala is now breathing once again and giving people safer spaces to walk and ride,” Kigenyi said.
He urged Ugandans to reflect on the growing number of lives lost on the roads.
“5,383 is not just a figure; it represents lives lost,” he said.
This year’s walk was supported by partners including Fun Cycling Uganda, Rwenzori, Sheraton Kampala Hotel, NBS TV, Sanyuka TV, and Newman’s.
