Ugandan drivers have been urged to always practice professional ethics while on the steering wheel.
The calls was made by the Uganda Professional Drivers’ Network (UPDN) during their annual professional driver’s conference held at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
The UPDN Executive Director, Ndugu Omongo said there is need for drivers of all driving licenses’ categories to exhibit a high-level professionalism not only to curb road carnage but also gain the confidence and trust from their employers and the public who use public transport for their daily movements.
“In Uganda driving is an informal job whereas it should not be the case. We need competent driving schools and instructors to produce professional drivers with similar quality standards countrywide”, he said.
According to Omongo, major road crashes are caused by people who lack professional training, noting that this is the major reason such drivers have failed to secure jobs in the oil and gas sector which is largely dominated by foreign drivers.
Moses Tayebwa, a professional drivers trainer reminded drivers of road hazards that should be observed by drivers, categorizing thme into permanent, semi-permanent and moving hazards.
He said permanent hazards include; bends, junctions and bridges while semi-permanent ones comprise stationary vehicles, broken down vehicles and roadwork.
“Moving hazards include; moving vehicles, Boda Boda riders, pedestrians, cyclists and animals,” he said.
Ibrahim Kayondo, from the United Bus Drivers Association representative reminded drivers of the need to observe professionalism.
He said many Ugandan drivers failed to meet the professional driving requirements during the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) and foreign drivers were recruited to do the job.
According to the traffic police spokesperson, Michael Kananura, it is important for drivers to observe lower speeds as one of the ways to curb accidents on the road.
Maria Nkalubo, the In-country coordinator for the Global Health Advocacy Incubator commended UPDN for ensuring drivers are involving in ensuring safety on the road.
She recognized the role her organisation and the Global Road Safety Partnership played in supporting government through the Ministry of Works and Transport and traffic police to develop, review and pass several road safety laws and policies especially on behavioral risk factors .
