AWARENESS RAISING, A PRIORITY FOR EFFECTIVE REGULATIONS

Uganda Road Accident Reduction Network Organisation (URRENO) with support from the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) is implementing a project advocating for the strengthening of helmet use and drink driving regulations in Uganda.

In relation to this, the URRENO team led by Mr. Isingoma Cuthbert held a round table meeting on 27^th January 2022 with officials from the Ministry of Health at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Wandegeya to advocate for these reviews.

In attendance was Dr. John Baptist Nambohe Wanioye- the Commissioner Emergency Medical Services and Maria N Nkalubo- the Principal Operations Officer among other ministry officials.

Among the main issues raised was the awareness gap. Commissioner Wanioye highlighted this as the biggest loophole in the law and it is something we need to pay attention to if we are to make the reviews impactful in society.

In his submission, Mr. Isingoma mentioned how the lack of coordination within the ministries is also causing a lag in effectiveness of the law. He applauded the health sector under the Ministry of Health for doing a lot in the awareness raising campaigns which is absent in the transport sector under the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Mr. Isingoma concluded the meeting by highlighting the importance of the proper use of helmets and proper standards of helmets on the market which can only be authorized by Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).

On drink driving, he mentioned the importance of detailed explanation of what the 0.05mg/l Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit as opposed to the present 0.08mg/l entails for easier comprehension by the public. He also stressed the importance of including the clinical measurements in the awareness raising campaigns since self-regulation is mainly created by awareness.