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Next Media Joins Efforts to Combat Boda Accidents with 'Linya Step with Safety' Campaign

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Next Media Joins Efforts to Combat Boda Accidents with 'Linya Step with Safety' Campaign
The campaign is expected to reduce fatalites due to boda boda accidents

The *Linya Step* campaign seeks to reduce these troubling figures by encouraging safer practices and educating riders on their rights and responsibilities on the road.

In an effort to address the increasing number of accidents involving boda bodas, Next Media has launched a new road safety campaign titled "Linya Step with Safety".

The initiative aims to improve safety standards, promote regulatory compliance, and enhance the financial empowerment of boda boda riders across Uganda.

During the campaign's launch, officials shared alarming statistics, revealing that 79% of road injuries treated in hospital casualty wards are linked to boda boda accidents.

The *Linya Step* campaign seeks to reduce these troubling figures by encouraging safer practices and educating riders on their rights and responsibilities on the road.

According to police reports, boda bodas are responsible for a significant proportion of road fatalities. In just one week, 32 people lost their lives in boda boda-related accidents, including 20 riders and 12 passengers.

These deaths, many of which are preventable, have heightened the urgency for authorities to take decisive action.

ASP Micheal Kananura, the Public Relations Officer for the Uganda Police Traffic Department, spoke at the launch and highlighted the gravity of the situation. “Most of these accidents result in head injuries, which are the leading cause of death,” Kananura noted, pointing out that many victims fail to wear helmets, leaving both riders and passengers vulnerable.

He emphasized the importance of enforcing helmet use, not only for boda boda riders but also for passengers. “The same safety measures that protect the rider must apply to the passenger,” Kananura stressed, noting that stricter enforcement could save lives.

Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, expressed his frustration with the rising accident rates, despite Uganda's commitment to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) to reduce road accidents by 50%.

“The situation is worsening,” Wamala acknowledged. “We are failing to meet our targets, and this campaign is essential in addressing the escalating crisis of boda boda accidents.”

Wamala called for urgent action, urging stakeholders to prioritize road safety education for boda boda riders. “It’s no longer acceptable to keep counting the dead,” he remarked, warning that without immediate intervention, more lives would be lost.

The *Linya Step with Safety* campaign not only focuses on addressing safety concerns but also aims to empower boda boda riders through financial education.

Joe Kigozi, Deputy Group CEO of Next Media, emphasized that the campaign’s goal is to create long-term positive change within the boda boda industry by improving livelihoods and reducing accidents.

As Uganda continues to grapple with the rising safety crisis surrounding boda bodas, the *Linya Step with Safety* campaign is a timely and much-needed initiative.

If embraced by both riders and the public, it could significantly reduce the number of road fatalities and injuries.

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