Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) executive director, Ms Allen Kagina, has decried the theft of road signage on all highways, which she said is one of the causes of road accidents in the country.
Speaking at the launch of the Nicole Foundation, a charity organisation which seeks to champion road safety at the weekend, Ms Kagina called for stringent laws prescribing tough penalties for culprits.
“We must not only criminalise it but we must also condemn it. When you steal a road sign, you take a life,” Mr Kagina said. She cited instances of road signs warning drivers to reduce speed, especially when approaching populated areas, which were vandalised causing pedestrians or cyclists to be knocked down.
She added: “When we construct roads, we warn motorists by putting up signages along the highways. The travesty comes six months later and all the signs have been stolen. They are used to make things life flat irons.”
Vandalising of road signage, especially in isolated spots on all roads, has remained a serious problem in the country. Several times the culprits are found hiding the signs or selling the metallic plates to fabrication workshops.
The acting director for police’s traffic and road safety, Mr Lawrence Niwabiine, said at least 3,500 people die in road carnage annually in Uganda.
Of these, he said, 34 per cent are pedestrians, 31 per cent motorcyclists, 25 are passengers, five per cent are pedal cyclists, and five per cent drivers.
“Our hope is that we can use this [Nicole] foundation to change the behaviour of road users through road safety education,” he said.
Mr Niwabiine also revealed that even during the lockdowns imposed to contain spread of Covid-19, accidents have remained prevalent on the roads.
Hopeful…Nicole Foundation
The Nicole Foundation, established in January is in memory of Nicole Ahumuza who died on January 18, 2020 in a road accident in Kasese District during her senior four vacation.
Nicole Ahumuza in whose memory the foundation was created.
She was the daughter of Petroleum Authority of Uganda’s executive director, Mr Ernest Rubondo.
The head of the foundation’s board of trustees, Standard Bank’s Regional chief executive, Mr Patrick Mweheire, said the outfit seeks to serve the role of a non-profit to advocate for road safety initiatives.
