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TORORO - The Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA), a transit transport and trade facilitation agency, has launched a new road safety awareness campaign aimed at reducing the number of accidents on the Northern Corridor Road network.

The campaign launched on Monday (September 11, 2023) in Malaba Town Council in Tororo district, will focus on promoting safe driving practices and encouraging road users to take responsibility for their own safety.

The campaign is being carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT), Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), Uganda National Transporters Association (UNTA), Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and the Uganda Police Force, with a goal to reduce the number of accidents on the Northern Corridor Road network and improve overall road safety.

The campaign also aims to raise awareness about the importance of safe driving habits, addressing driver fatigue and driver health and wellness.

“We are committed to improving road safety on the Northern Corridor road network, and this campaign is an important step in achieving that goal,” said Omae Nyarandi, NCTTCA Executive Secretary.

“We believe that by promoting safe driving practices and encouraging road users to take responsibility for their own safety, we can reduce the number of accidents and make our roads safer for everyone,” he added.

The primary road network of the Northern Corridor spans from the Mombasa seaport in Kenya, passing through Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Moreover, it links Kenya and Uganda to Juba in South Sudan. In Uganda, the corridor road network cumulatively spans approximately 2,076 Km from Busia and Malaba borders with Kenya to Katuna, Ishasha, Mpondwe, Goli, Arua, Kigitumba, and to the border with South Sudan at Nimule/Elegu.

The launched awareness campaign will feature roadshows along the route from Malaba through Jinja and Kampala to the Katuna border with Rwanda and then to the Mpondwe border with DRC. 

These routes are some of the busiest in Uganda, carrying more than 80% of the traffic from and to Kenya.

While the road network is vital for transportation and trade, it can also be dangerous. Data from the Uganda Police annual crime report 2022 shows there were 21,473 casualties from road crashes in 2022. Out of these, 21% were killed, 71% seriously injured and 8% escaped with minor injuries. The number of casualties increased by 19% compared to 2021. Persons who died as a result of road crashes increased by 9%, persons seriously injured increased by 21% and those who sustained minor injuries increased by 33%.

William Busulwa the chairman Uganda National Transport Alliance called upon stakeholders to network and continue reducing accidents on the roads.

Busulwa said causes of accidents on major highways include recklessness, fatigue, not having enough sleep, and alcohol.

He revealed that the Northern Corridor is going to establish 25 roadside stations where drivers can rest after driving for longer distances.

Taddeo Magina a member of the Uganda Long Distance and Heavy Truck Drivers Association said that thorough demarcation of all roads.

Magina said the main challenge is that road marks are not seen visibly on some roads and, therefore, called upon UNRA and the works ministry to see that they demarcate all tarmac roads in the Country.

The Northern Corridor Road Safety Awareness Campaign will use a variety of strategies to reach road users, including roadshow campaigns, radio and TV, billboards, and social media. The campaign will also include targeted messaging for specific groups of road users, such as truck drivers and other motorists.

The Northern Corridor Road Safety Awareness Campaign is a long-term initiative that will continue for all Northern Corridor Member States. The exercise started in Kenya and after Uganda, it will proceed with Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and DRC, implemented in phases. Northern Corridor is committed to working with other stakeholders, including the government, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations, to improve road safety and reduce the number of accidents on the Northern Corridor Road network.

About Northern Corridor

Established in 1985 the Northern Corridor is a multimodal trade route linking to the maritime Port of Mombasa, which serves the Member States of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda under the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Agreement (NCTTA) in a bid to promote regional cooperation by facilitating interstate and transit trade. 

The Corridor is monitored, and coordinated by the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA).