By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: Fort Portal City member of parliament Hon. Alex Ruhunda Akiiki aka Nikisoboka has Thursday morning scooped an award from Consult Africa Usalama over his restless efforts aimed at curbing road carnage in Uganda.
The good news has been confirmed by Ruhunda himself who via his socials revealed thus; “What a nice day! This morning I attended an extraordinary meeting at Mackinnon suites in Kampala. Little did I know that I was going to receive an award for my works on road safety campaigns in the country. Thanks to Consult Africa Usalama for organizing this fabulous event that gave more inspiration to the individuals who do their best to make a difference. #Nikisoboka!”
Consult Afrika Usalama (CAU) that awarded Ruhunda, is a Premier Company established to offer specialized services in the field of Safety in Africa. CAU was legally established in 2013 as a Company limited by Guarantee. This Social Enterprise is a member of the UK Uganda Health Alliance and Civil Society Coalition for Transport.
Usalama is a Swahili word meaning “Safety”. CAU was formed as a result of a felt need in communities to address issues of Public Safety professionally and an urge to cause a change in how public safety issues are comprehended, managed, highlighted, promoted and inculcated in our behaviours. Our areas of emphasis are Safety on the Road, Safety at Home, Safety in Schools and Safety at Work Places.
These come after Ruhunda in December last year tabled a motion before Parliament urging the government to strengthen efforts for promoting road safety in the country.
In the motion supported by all sides of the House, Ruhunda called for the need to fund different road safety activities, especially for the Uganda Police and the Ministry of Works and Transport. The legislator also called for the reduction of the speed limit reduced from 50 to 30 km per hour within urban centres as a measure to curb the road carnage.
According to Ruhunda, the ministry should also consider reducing the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) from the current 0.08mg/100ml to 0.05mg/100ml for the general drivers and 0.02mg/100ml for young and novice drivers and commercial drivers. This measurement examines the percentage of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream and a reduction would mean nipping cases of drunk driving in the bud.
He also called for setting up acceptable standards for helmets, seatbelts, and child restraints to be allowed on the market and strengthening of enforcement of road safety laws and regulations, especially during the festive season.
Ruhunda called for the effective collection of road crash data between the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Health, and the Uganda Police Force measures he believes can drastically reduce accidents in Uganda.
