Why are so many people dying on Uganda’s roads?
Unregistered boda boda taxis, lack of respect for road rules and impunity for government vehicles have all led to traffic chaos – especially at junctions
When former journalist, Joseph Bayanga, witnessed the death of three generations of a family on a Kampala road - a mother, daughter and grandchild – he decided enough was enough.
More people die on Uganda’s roads – 14 every day – than anywhere else in East Africa.
Kampala’s Mulago National Referral Hospital even has a special ward just for the drivers of boda bodas who account for the highest number of deaths. Boda bodas are the motorbike taxis which weave precariously through the traffic at every junction with one, two or even three passengers on their backs.
So Joe reinvented himself as a road safety campaigner ‘Joe Walker’ and walked 340 km in just 10 days from Kampala to his home town of Bushenyi to raise awareness on the subject.
For Africa Daily Alan Kasujja takes a drive round Kampala’s roads with Joe and asks: can anything be done to make Uganda’s roads safer?
Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja
Guest: Joe Beyanga @akeda4
Podcast
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Africa Daily
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