The Uganda Red Cross Society, in partnership with Prudential Uganda, has trained more than 18,600 boda boda riders in road safety and first aid under the Safe Steps Road Safety Campaign.
The Phase III grand finale was held on Tuesday at Nakawa Vocational Training Institute, where over 6,000 riders officially completed their training.
The campaign was delivered with support from the Uganda Police Traffic Directorate and the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Speaking at the event, Uganda Red Cross Society Secretary General, Mr Robert Kwesiga, praised Prudential for sustaining the programme.
“The SAFE STEPS campaign comprised trainings on road safety and first aid skills, focusing on the highway code, drunk driving, distracted driving, helmet removal, speed limits, pedestrian safety, managing fractures and injuries, and most especially educating the boda-boda riders about offering first aid while ensuring that an ambulance is called each time a road traffic injury occurs,” he said.
Prudential Uganda Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tetteh Ayitevie, explained that the company is committed to strengthening community resilience.
“We are proud to have reached 18,600 riders with life-saving knowledge. Prudential remains committed to delivering real-time impact and building long-term resilience in the communities we serve,” he said.
He added, “As a life and health insurer, our responsibility extends beyond financial protection, we are custodians of public safety and well-being.”
Speaking to the press, Police spokesperson for traffic, SP Michael Kananura, said 2024 statistics show motorcyclists, their passengers, and pedestrians remain the most affected by road crashes.
“We have seen that most of the people dying on these roads are motorcyclists and their passengers and then the pedestrians. Every time we gather these statistics across the country, we realise that the numbers of the riders and their passengers are always high compared to other numbers,” he said.
He thanked Prudential and the Uganda Red Cross for training thousands of riders and equipping many with first aid kits.
“When there are crashes, the first responders of those crashes, they are riders. So when they get there and they don't know what to do, then really we shall still lose lives. But these people have taken a step to train these riders that big, that much number. And indeed we have seen some improvements that this time now when they respond, they are able to save lives,” he said.
SP Kananura condemned the growing trend of bystanders recording accident scenes instead of helping victims.
“People are broken, but instead of helping out, people pick them out of the vehicles, put them in safer places. But then you see people just taking photos. That is wrong,” he said, adding that some even steal from victims. “This must stop. This is not good at all.”
Representing the Ministry of Works and Transport, Ms Cynthia Bindeeba, Assistant Commissioner for Railway Transport Safety and Regulation, said the country still has an informal transport system where all road users share the same lanes.
“We have plans that in the next 5 to 10 years we shall have lanes which are dedicated for different modes of transport,” she said.
Ms Bindeeba urged riders to uphold discipline even with limited infrastructure.
“We are saying don't carry many people. Carry only two people, you and the passenger, and wear the helmet. This training can help you save a life,” she said. She also encouraged trained riders to pass on the knowledge. “These ones that have been trained, if they are over 100, let them go and spread the message to other border border riders across the country.”
The Safe Steps campaign, now in its third phase, will continue nationwide as Uganda Red Cross moves to expand road safety education and community first aid capacity.