The Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has called for massive sensitization of the public on road safety measures to reduce the rampant road accidents in the country.

Rugunda said 95% of the road accidents could be prevented if only the people followed the road traffic regulations.

The Premier made the remarks while meeting a cross section of stakeholders on road safety who were led by Alex Ruhunda, Member of Parliament for Fort Portal Municipality and Member of Parliamentary Forum on road safety at the Office of the Prime Minister .

“The weaknesses and loopholes in the implementation of these measures need to be addressed,” said the Premier.

Ruhunda noted that it is time the government drew a roadmap for establishing the National Road Safety Authority, adding that all relevant laws should be expedited and brought to Parliament.

The head of Accident and Emergency at Mulago hospital, Dr Alex Bangirana said boda boda (Motocycle Taxi) injuries account for up to 50% of the road traffic crashes.

According to Uganda Helmet Vaccine Initiative (UHVI), use of helmets reduces the risk of severe head injury by 69% and risk of fatality by 42% while the annual crime and Police report, estimates that 18,368 crashes were recorded in 2013, while 19,870 were recorded in 2012.

Another study carried out by researchers from Uganda Christian University and Makerere University(2014), involving 1600 boda boda riders in Kawempe and central divisions of Kampala estimates that 55% of Boda Boda  riders had ever been involved in an accident.

The research also revealed that it costs up to 7 million shillings to treat cyclists with serious injuries and that the economic burden of motorcycle accidents in Uganda was estimated at US$3.6 million (about 9 billion shillings) annually.

Research also indicates that Uganda is among the seven African countries responsible for 64% of all road deaths. Others are Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2011-2020 the ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety.’

Other road safety stakeholders represented at the meeting were; Safe Way Right Way Uganda, Uganda Helmet Vaccine Initiative, Mulago hospital Accident and Emergency centre, Crossroads and Uganda Christian University, Mukono.

Dr. Rugunda as well paid tribute to health workers and the Uganda Police Force for their role in saving lives of road accident victims.