The Hope for Victims of Traffic Accidents (HOVITA) and the Uganda Road Accident Reduction Network Organisation (URRENO) held a successful pupil-led road safety sensitization activity on Thursday in Kampala.
Pupils of Kitante Primary School and Africa Kids made the day colourful with poems, marches, and assortment of performances all calling for safe and sustainable roads as per United Nations’ global road safety week theme.
The pupils of Kitante said they often get knocked when crossing Kira road because they are never respected by motorcyclists and drivers. In response, they held placards calling upon urban and local government authorities to draft policies that compel drivers to maintain a 30km/h speed in all school zones.
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Jane Mugisha, the Kitante primary school headteacher said her 18 pupils were knocked and injured last term. She said most of the children are knocked crossing the road in the morning and evening hours. This, she attributed to drivers and motorcyclists who have no consideration for other road users.
“We have more than 3,000 pupils and it’s a challenge for them to safely cross this road. People with motorcycles and cars do not respect children even when they see them at the Zebra crossing point,” Kyakuwa said.
Maria Nansasi Nkalubo, the trauma and injury focal point person at the ministry of health said government spends a minimum of 3.6 million shillings on each person who sustains serious road injuries.
“Sometimes one victim of road accident consumes treatment worth 10 million shillings or even more especially when it involves head operation. That money would cater for more than 10 patients for ordinary infections. We need to reduce road injuries and save money for other activities,” Nkalubo said.
Kyakuwa said the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) that is responsible for Kitante primary school should put some huge sign posts to show drivers that there is a school and therefore they need to slow speed.
Freddie Kiapi, the HOVITA Project Manager and Fred Tumwine, the ROSACU chairman, said urban authorities, local governments and other stakeholders need to draft policies that compel drivers to observe a 30km/h speed in all school zones.
“We cannot keep seeing children and young people perish on our roads when we can do something to stop this. If we enforce a 30km/h speed in all school zones, we would have few road deaths and injuries,” Kiapi said.