Driving Industry Stakeholders Unite to Prioritize Road Safety

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KAMPALA – Key stakeholders in the driving industry have received a strong call to prioritize road safety as a means to combat the current high levels of road accidents in the country.

This call was issued by Superintendent of Police (SP) Waiswa Patrick, Inspector of Vehicles at Uganda Police, during a collaborative workshop held on September 16, 2023, in Naguru.

The workshop gathered key players in the driving industry, including inspectors of vehicles, instructors, and driving school owners.The workshop marks a significant stride towards safer roads and more standardized driver training programs in Uganda, aligning the nation with global road safety objectives.

The primary goal is to enhance road safety and elevate driving school standards, while also bringing Uganda’s driving education system in line with the global road safety action plan for 2020-2023, which aims to reduce accidents by 50% by 2030.

Notable attendees included members of the Uganda Driving Schools Operators & Instructors Association, police driving instructors, directors of driving schools, and other industry representatives.A highlight of the workshop was the unveiling of a comprehensive curriculum model developed by the Ugandan government, specifically designed to address deficiencies in driver training and ensure a structured approach to skills development for driving instructors.

This curriculum covers essential aspects of driver education, including adapting to changing driving conditions, understanding traffic regulations, practical on and off-road training, promoting responsible road behavior, adherence to road signs, and meeting various requirements.

SP Waiswa, the Inspector of Vehicles at UPF, emphasized the critical importance of embracing this curriculum, noting,

“We are moving toward a future with evolving driving conditions, and we must absorb this curriculum to keep pace with technological advancements and road safety standards.”

He urged driving school operators to adhere to established standards and systems, including appointment booking, payment procedures, and handling cancellations.

Waiswa urged all attendees to maintain strong relationships and make road safety their top priority while working toward the ambitious goal of achieving an accident-free Uganda by 2030.

Abbey Kanyankole, Chairman of the Uganda Driving Schools Operators & Instructors Association, stressed the significance of collaborative efforts in realizing the vision of making Uganda accident-free by 2030.

He highlighted the challenges faced by directors and instructors at driving schools, such as expired driving permits, complex booking procedures, and unwelcoming experiences at IOV testing centers, and called upon the Inspector of Vehicles to promptly address these issues to facilitate their work.