Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has trained and donated safety gear to over 150 Boda Boda operators in Luzira, Kampala. The initiative, conducted as part of UBL’s Safety Awareness Week, provided comprehensive road safety training and equipped riders with essential protective gear to enhance their visibility and safety during daily operations.
The training and donation come at a critical time when motorcycle accidents continue to pose the greatest threat to road safety in Uganda.
The Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2024 reveals that motorcyclists remain the most vulnerable road users, with 1,720 motorcyclist fatalities, a 13.2% increase from 2023.
Total motorcycle-related deaths reached 2,396, nearly 47% of all road traffic deaths in the country.
Overall, 5,144 people died in road crashes in 2024, marking a 7% rise from 2023, with total casualties at 25,808.
The report identifies careless overtaking and speeding as the primary causes of road crashes, accounting for 44.5% of incidents.
The economic impact remains devastating, with the United Nations Road Safety Performance Review estimating the annual cost of road crashes at approximately UGX 4.4 trillion (USD 1.2 billion), representing 5% of Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
During the event, the Boda Boda operators underwent intensive training on road safety measures, received a refresher course on traffic rules and regulations.
The training covered critical aspects, including defensive riding techniques, proper use of safety equipment, traffic sign recognition, safe overtaking procedures, speed management, and the importance of compliance with traffic laws.
Following the training session, each participant received a helmet and a high-visibility reflector jacket to ensure their safety while conducting their daily operations.
Anthony Alozie, the Supply Chain Director at Uganda Breweries Limited, highlighted that the Boda Boda road safety campaign is part of UBL’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) path towards a sustainable and inclusive world by 2030.
“We consider health and safety as a fundamental human right. This initiative falls under our ‘Doing Business the Right Way from Grain to Glass’ pillar. I am glad that participants have taken part in comprehensive training on road safety measures and a refresher course on traffic rules, which we believe will greatly improve safety on our roads. By equipping riders with knowledge and protective equipment, we aim to contribute to reversing the troubling upward trend in motorcycle fatalities,” Alozie stated.
He also highlighted the safety measures in place at the brewery that have made UBL a safety benchmark in the manufacturing sector, with consistent recognition and awards by regulators.
“Uganda Breweries has fostered a strong safety culture internally, which is a result of consistent effort and engagement from leadership down to employees. We ensure mandatory wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at work, our employees undergo regular world-class safety and health training, we are consistently upgrading and servicing our machinery to ensure safety and we have a dedicated team that enforces safety protocols to ensure measures are adhered to.
We also have strict regulations in place around drinking alcohol, including the use of breathalyzer test kits to prevent alcohol from impacting workplace safety, despite being an alcohol company.
As a result, we have had 14 and 17 years of “no lost time” at our brewery and the spirits plant (International Distillers Uganda – IDU), respectively.” Alozie noted.
The Director of Traffic and Road Safety, Uganda Police Force, AIGP Lawrence Niwabiine, commended UBL’s initiative for safer road use, stating,
“We appreciate Uganda Breweries Limited for this timely intervention. Boda Boda operators are critical stakeholders in road safety, and such partnerships between the private sector and law enforcement are essential in our fight against road carnage.
We call upon other corporate organizations to emulate this example and join us in creating safer roads for all Ugandans.”