The Uganda Professional Drivers’ Network (UPDN) has called on drivers to observe professional ethics during the festive season. This call was made during the two-day Annual Professional Drivers’ Conference held at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
Ndugu Omongo, UPDN Executive Director, emphasized the need for drivers to exhibit high-level professionalism to curb road carnage and gain public trust.
“In Uganda, driving is an informal job, whereas it should not be the case. We need competent driving schools and instructors to produce professional drivers with similar quality/standards countrywide,” Omongo said.
Omongo also highlighted that major road crashes are caused by untrained drivers, which is why they fail to secure jobs in the Oil and Gas Sector dominated by foreign drivers.
Moses Tayebwa, a Professional Drivers Trainer, reminded drivers of the importance of observing road hazards. Tayebwa categorized these hazards into permanent, semi-permanent, and moving hazards.
“Moving hazards include; moving vehicles, Boda Boda riders, pedestrians, cyclists, and animals,” he added.
Ibrahim Kayondo, United Bus Drivers Association representative, emphasized the need for drivers to observe professionalism, citing the failure of Ugandan drivers to meet professional driving requirements during the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting.
Other stakeholders, including the Public Relations Officer of the Uganda Traffic Police-Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, SP Kananura, stressed the importance of observing slower speeds to curb road crash deaths and injuries in Uganda.
Madam Maria Nkalubo, In-country coordinator for the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, commended UPDN for involving drivers in national development initiatives like road safety.
The conference, held under the theme ‘Towards a Professional, Safe and Prosperous Driving Industry,’ covered topics such as driver professionalism, driver livelihood, and personal finance management.
Dr. Joseph Baguma, a UPDN Board member, commended the Ministry of Works and Transport for reviewing the Speed Limits Regulations, citing that speeding was responsible for 52% of road crashes in Uganda in 2023.
The drivers demanded that UPDN lead them in making driving a profession in Uganda, a move that would improve road safety and reduce accidents
