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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 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.”
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%.
“As the Ministry of Works and Transport, we are pleased to be a part of this important road safety awareness campaign. Part of our mission is to ensure road safety by reducing road accidents and fatalities in our country, and we believe that campaigns like this are critical to achieving that goal,” said a Senior Officer MoWT.
“We recognize that the Northern Corridor highway has been a hotspot for road accidents with several blackspots identified, and we are taking measures to address this issue. We have already begun implementing several measures, including construction, upgrading and rehabilitation of roads, improved road markings and signage, and education campaigns targeting drivers and pedestrians alike to reduce road accidents,” said a UNRA official.
“We are utilizing a multi-faceted approach that includes road engineering, enforcement, education, and awareness campaigns like this one,” the UNRA official added.
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.
“We are committed to promoting road safety and reducing accidents on our roads. We understand that road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we encourage all road users to abide by traffic rules and regulations. As transporters, we pledge to ensure that our vehicles are well-maintained and roadworthy, our drivers are properly trained and licensed, and that we comply with all relevant laws and regulations. Let us work together to make our roads safer for everyone,” said the Uganda National Transporters Alliance (UNTA) participant.
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
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).
The Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) was established in 1985 and mandated by the Member States to oversee the implementation of the agreement, to monitor its performance and transform the Northern trade route into an economic development corridor and make the corridor a seamless, efficient, smart and green Corridor.
