The Deputy Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Rose Namayanja Nsereko, has launched a road safety awareness campaign aimed at reducing road accidents ahead of the festive season.
The campaign, dubbed “Drive, Ride and Walk Carefully, Your Family Needs You,” was launched on Tuesday at Wobulenzi Taxi Park in Luwero District. It seeks to raise awareness among motorists, boda boda riders and pedestrians about the major causes of road crashes and the importance of responsible road use.
Drawing from her personal experience as a road accident survivor, Namayanja said many crashes are preventable and are often caused by human errors, including reckless driving, speeding, careless road use and operating vehicles in dangerous mechanical conditions.
She said the campaign would initially focus on motorists and other road users along the Kampala–Gulu Highway, a route that has recorded numerous fatal accidents over the years. Namayanja noted that she was also involved in a serious crash along the same highway in 2015.
According to police statistics cited at the launch, at least 233 people died in the Savannah Region in 2025, with boda boda-related incidents among the contributing factors to road fatalities.
Namayanja said the initiative would go beyond public awareness campaigns to include efforts aimed at strengthening post-crash care and emergency response services to improve the chances of survival for accident victims.
“For me, this is more than a campaign. I am not simply joining the fight against road accidents; I am both a champion and a victim. I know firsthand the devastating consequences of road crashes, and I am determined to use my experience to prevent other families from going through the pain I have endured,” Namayanja said.
In October 2015, while travelling to Nakaseke District, Namayanja was involved in a serious road accident at Kigoogwa along the Kampala–Gulu Highway. The crash occurred following a head-on collision with a truck that had reportedly lost control while attempting to avoid a cyclist.
The accident left her with permanent injuries and required several major surgical operations.
“In order to save my life, I had to undergo five major operations. Eleven years later, I continue to live with the physical and emotional effects of that traumatic experience,” she said.
She urged motorists, boda boda riders and pedestrians to exercise caution, emphasising that road accidents not only claim lives but also leave families struggling with the loss of breadwinners, financial hardship and emotional trauma.
The Traffic Police Spokesperson, Michael Kananura, welcomed the initiative, saying Namayanja’s involvement would give the road safety campaign additional visibility and strengthen efforts to sensitise the public.
Kananura said police had been working to reduce road accidents but noted that the involvement of a prominent accident survivor would help amplify the road safety message.
“The coming of Rt. Hon. Rose Namayanja Nsereko will amplify this campaign, and as police, we shall work with her to intensify awareness,” Kananura said.
He further revealed that approximately 24,000 people had died in road accidents over the past five years, adding that many of these deaths could have been prevented through responsible road use.
Kananura said police would work with organisations such as the Rose Namayanja Foundation to strengthen road safety awareness while intensifying enforcement operations targeting reckless driving, vehicles in dangerous mechanical conditions and other traffic violations.
Meanwhile, Rashid Sekindi, Chairperson of the Federation of Uganda Taxi Operators, commended Namayanja for initiating the campaign, describing it as timely given the need to reduce road crashes, particularly during the festive season.
Sekindi pledged the federation’s support, saying taxi operators were ready to work with Namayanja and other stakeholders to promote responsible road use and protect lives on Uganda’s roads.
Mariam Nalubega Sseguya the Resident District Commissioner said that the initiative is timely ahead of festive season and urged drivers to embrace the message of driving carefully to save lives
The campaign is expected to bring together transport operators, traffic police and other stakeholders to encourage safer driving, riding and walking habits, with the ultimate goal of reducing preventable road deaths and injuries.
