Vivo Energy, NTV Uganda hailed for championing Road Safety standards at National Road Safety Summit
Kampala: Vivo Energy Uganda, the company that distributes and markets Shell branded fuels and lubricants in Uganda, together with NTV Uganda and the Ministry of Works and Transport, have once again hosted the National Road Safety Summit in Uganda.
The summit brought together key stakeholders and decision makers in Road Safety, under the Theme “Road Safety: Time for Action.” It took place at Kampala Sheraton Hotel, with over 200 representatives from key road safety players in the public and private sector, and development partners.
Speaking at the opening of the Summit, the Managing Director of Vivo Energy Uganda, Mr. Gilbert Assi said: “We continue to reiterate that road safety is a shared responsibility for which you and I play a significant role. Today, we shall walk the talk by getting practical with focused work groups that shall clearlydefine and design actionable plans to improve safety on ourroads. Our intention is for each participant at this Summit to adopt sustainable, action points, which they shall be heldaccountable for. We realise that commendable strides have been made to improve the sector but we can all do more to ensure ourroads are safer for all users. Our overall aim is to achievestatistically noticeable drops in the numbers of road trafficaccidents in Uganda by the next Summit in 2020.”
The General Manager of NTV Uganda, Mr. Johnson Omollosaid that “NTV Uganda is once again delighted to partner with Vivo Energy and the Ministry of Works and Transport in hosting the road safety summit for the second year. Road Safety is not only a transportation problem but also an economic, health and social problem. All partners must continue to come together in this and similar fora to discuss areas for improvement to the sector in this country, in order to save lives of innocent road users.”
The Minister of Works and Transport Hon. Aggrey Bagiire, who presided over the event, said “If Uganda is to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal target of halving the number of deaths and injuries from road traffic injuries by 2020 a lot more needs to be done. Today we go further to highlight some areas that we need to continue addressing throughintersectoral action that involves all key actors and thatencourages the safe system approach, which advocates for saferoads and road sides, safe vehicles as well as safe road users.”
“My commendation goes to Vivo Energy Uganda, NTV Uganda, Uganda Police and all partners and participants for maintainingthe momentum of the Summit annually and for yourdemonstrated commitment in championing the road safetymessage. We pledge the support of the Ministry of Works and Transport in assisting all players in achieving the actionableresolutions and commitments made today,” she added.
According to the WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety2018 launched last December, Uganda was among the countries with the highest traffic death rates, estimated at 29 car deaths per 100,000 population. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children and young adults aged 5 – 29 years and ranked as the 11th cause of death globally with approximately93% of the mortality occurring in low income countries.
The first National Road Safety Summit in 2018 was aimed at bringing policy makers and other major stakeholders up to speed with the road safety challenge facing the country in order to increase their commitment towards road safety. The participants agreed to some immediate actions and made institutional commitments towards improving road safety in Uganda over the following year. The 2019 Summit chose to develop sustainable action plans to achieve improve road usage behaviour and reduce accidents on Uganda’s roads.
