New Security features to improve Road Safety in Kigezi Region

By Alex Gahima

The Uganda Driver Licensing System (UDLS) has confirmed that the new security features introduced to the Ugandan driving permit will ensure road users are more accountable, even culpable, if found violating road safety regulations.

The comments were made by Catherine Nantume, the communications and customer care personnel at UDLS, yesterday during the official launch of a five day exercise aimed at enabling all road users in Kisoro, Kabale, Ntungamo, and surrounding areas to start the year with a valid driving license.

The exercise that is taking place at the Kisoro district headquarters, till the 20^th of January, 2023 has managed to attract hundreds of people, from all corners of Kigezi region.

UDLS, which is run by Uganda Security Printing Company has been contracted by the Ministry of Works and Transport to print and distribute permits in a bid to improve the level of road safety awareness by having more licensed drivers operating on Ugandan roads.

Nantume says the campaign was brought to Kisoro district in order to bring services closer to the people.

Among the new and exciting features integrated into the driving permit is the National Identification Number (NIN) which is aimed at helping drivers become more accountable while on the road.

According to Nantume, many people involved in road traffic incidents hand over their driving permits but after that, there is no way of following them up.

“The NIN makes the driver more accountable and makes the driver better understand the greater repercussions involved in causing road accidents, Nantume explained.

Nantume further stresses that the NIN touches all other aspects of one’s life as a citizen therefore any crime committed on the road cannot be excused because the law will catch up with traffic violators.

The five-day campaign in Kisoro district is aiming to cover over 20,000 interested road users’ access new permits as well as renewal of old permits.

Kisoro Resident District Commissioner Hajji Shafiq Sekandi said the five-day campaign which includes IOV test, eye test and learning road signs will be beneficial to road users in Kisoro district.

According to Sekandi, many accidents in Kisoro have been caused by people, especially boda boda riders who do not know the first thing about how to operate any machinery on a road.

He commended the UDLS for bringing the services to Kisoro, upon a written request made by the Kisoro United Boda Boda Association (KUBO) Chairman Robert Kalangala.

“The boda boda riders in Kisoro, who are slightly over 9000 are the major violators of road safety in the district. This exercise was meant for them but now the rest of the public has benefitted too”, Sekandi said.

Kisoro district Police Commander (DPC) Richard Musisi says in the year 2022, a total of 86 accidents were registered in the district.

Musisi attributed the accidents to road users who did not know what they were doing on the roads.

He commended the Government for bringing services closer to the people of Kisoro and vowed that Police would continue with operations on the road to ensure all road users in the district are mindful of how to use the roads.