By Leilah Bbaale
The Uganda Driver Licensing system has launched a Road Safety Campaign in the Albertine Region with an aim of ensuring that motorists have permits. According to police reports, the region has the highest probability of fatalities from road crashes which we must fight against.
The Road Safety Campaign that has been launched Thursday in Kakindo Town Council in Kakumiro district is part of the 14-day campaign by UDLS aimed at encouraging motorists to obtain proper licenses, enhancing road safety through education and regulatory compliance.
Launching the campaign, the State Minister for Works who doubles as the Bugangaizi west MP Fred Byamukama says the campaign will put emphasis on reducing road fatalities in the Albertine region through creation of road safety awareness among school going children.
Minister Byamukama has pledged to support the boda boda riders to attain Driving Licenses during the mobile enrollment with a top up of 150,000ugx for each cyclist who can raise half the amount to attain a license a move he says will help ensure that riders are professional and the country’s roads are safer.
The Director of Traffic and Road Safety Nuwabiine Lawrence says it is important for drivers to acquire licences that not only authorize them to drive legally but also ensure they undergo essential training and evaluations, adding that this comprehensive process contributes significantly to reducing road accidents in Uganda
Peterson Mandela, the mobile team supervisor for UDLS has emphasized the importance of the campaign, noting that it aligns with the Ministry of Transport and Works’ directive to extend the Uganda Driver’s Licensing System through mobile outreach programs across the country.
Mandela further notes that in these two weeks, the campaign will involve a mobile enrollment system, bringing driver’s license services closer to the people by renewing expired licenses, issuing new licenses and replacing the lost driving permits.
He adds that this approach aligns with the ministry’s strategy to make licensing services more accessible across different regions of the country saying that this mobile outreach program is set to cover various locations, ensuring convenience for Ugandans.
