Hakim Owiny, 37, Monday started a 655km cycling journey to Nairobi in a campaign to raise awareness of the need to integrate safe cycling lanes onto Uganda’s road network.

Speaking at the New Vision head offices in Industrial Area, Kampala, Owiny said the journey he has embarked on is a message to policymakers to translate into implementation. 

He was flagged off by Vision Group’s acting head of marketing and communications Lorraine Tukahirwa and Netherlands deputy head of mission to Uganda Joost van Ettro.

Owiny hopes to spend a maximum of six days to get to Nairobi.

Once in Nairobi, Owiny is expected to present the same message to leaders at the 2023 Africa Climate Summit (ACS), which will run from September 4-6, 2023. The summit will be hosted by the government of Kenya.

During the ACS, African leaders will be called upon to make ambitious pledges and commitments, towards the adoption of a “Pledging and Commitment Framework”.

“My journey is a bold message to our policymakers on the need for safe cycling lanes. If these lanes are integrated into our road network, it will motivate people to cycle to work. This will greatly save our environment from pollution,” Owiny said.

He added: “You see, cycling does not emit any pollution and in fact, reduces fuel combustion on the roads. According to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), every day in Kampala alone, people burn over 140,000 litres of fuel due to car idling. Now, this kind of air pollution becomes a very big deal to our environment".

Six days to Kenya's capital

Owiny hopes to spend a maximum of six days to get to Nairobi.

“As I set off now, I will have a stopover in Iganga. That is where I will spend the night. Early in the morning tomorrow (Tuesday), I will be on the road and have a stopover again in Busia. I will be in Kisumu on Wednesday,” he said.

Owiny said he would be in Kericho on Thursday, Nakuru on Friday and enter Nairobi city on Monday.

On the way, he said he will be interacting with environmentalists and fellow cyclists on environmental issues.

Walking to Addis Ababa

In 2019, Owiny walked to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to popularise the African Agenda 2030. He said the 2,421km journey took him two months.

Owiny added: “Physically, I walked for 1,420km. The rest of the journey, I hitchhiked because of security issues and desert conditions”.

Cities need a bailout

Ettro said cities across the world need a bailout on air pollution and environmental degradation.

He added that all citizens need to become environmentally cautious so that 'we save our environment'.

“We need to rethink our actions and policies to promote sustainable use of environmental resources as we pursue economic prosperity and security,” he said.

Ettro added that the Government should start encouraging cycling among Ugandans.

“This is something the Government here should encourage and take up seriously. It is a healthy lifestyle and very good for our environment. The flow of traffic should be streamlined, known and predictable. By this, cycling will be embraced by the citizens. Just like it is in the Netherlands,” he said.