The officer in charge traffic at Masindi Central Police Station has asked government to work with the private sector to set up schools for motorcycle riders across the country in order to reduce the number of road accidents and deaths.
Mr Fidel Bigirimana said the boda boda industry is employing millions of Ugandans, but wonders why it has been neglected in terms of skills development.
“Once one gets his money, he buys the motorcycle and hits the road without any riding skill and knowledge on traffic rules and regulations,” Mr Bigirimana said this week.
“I want to talk to the management of the boda boda riders in Masindi and we see how these people can be trained. This should be rolled throughout the country,” he said.
Mr Bigirimana said the training would include motorcycle maintenance, road signs, how to overtake other field users and the traffic rules and regulations.
Mr Farouk Sowedi, the chairperson of Masindi Motorcycle Riders Association, an umbrella organisation which brings together all riders in the district, concurred with Mr Bigirimana, saying many of his colleagues have joined the business without any skills.
“Training has not been part of our requirement, what we need is the membership fee,” he said.
Mr Sowedi promised to cooperate with the authorities and ensure that motorcycle riders get trained.
3,043
Number of motorcyclists injured in accidents in 2012, an increase from 1,795 cyclists injured in 2008, according to a five-year (2008-2012) injury and fatality trends report.
80%
Percentage of boda boda accident patients admitted to the accident and emergency ward at Mulago.
0 comments:
Post a Comment