Rotaract Responds to Non-Functioning Traffic Lights at Nkumba with Road Safety Campaign

October 14, 2023

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The Rotaract club of Nkumba University today, 14th October 2023 conducted a road safety campaign targeting Boda Boda riders following the risky situation at Nkumba-Entebbe Express junction where traffic lights have been off for close to 2 weeks.

With four lanes and two U-turns, the Nkumba Non-functional traffic lights has created commotion leading to hazardous environment in the area, Club president, Natsami Grace said that the goal was to sensitize Boda-Boda riders on proper road usage and also brief locals on the right approach to the situation at the road junction, “as Rotaractor, we have seen a community need, we are here to train Boda-Boda Riders on proper road usage given the fact that they now operate at risk.” The campaign also saw over 50 Boda-Boda riders receive free reflector jackets

**PHOTO:** Rotaractors talking to a Boda-Boda rider during the road safety campaign. **Photo by:** Japheth Godwin Walakira

According to the club administrator, Lamula Nangendo, the campaign was initiated in response to the chaotic traffic situation that has persisted for close to two weeks.
“If you have been keen enough, these traffic lights have been faulty for now close to 2 weeks, both motorists and pedestrians have to negotiate their way unguided, in such a busy intersection with 4 lanes and 2 U-Turns, this is risky.” Said Nangendo

Nkumba traffic lights are also set to cater for different road users including pedestrians who are mostly students. Pedestrians now take longer to cross amidst an extreme risk of being ran over by the speeding motorists.
Nakalema Jacinta, a mobile money operator says that the area might turn into a death spot if authorities don’t come in and rectify the faulty traffic lights. “I have witnessed an instance where a Boda-Boda rider almost collided with a car, this will soon become a death trap if people responsible don’t act immediately.”

**PHOTO:** Nangendo Lamula (L) and other Rotararactors interacting with Boda Boda riders at Nkumba stage. **Photo by:** Japheth Godwin Walakira

The Vice chairperson Nkumba Boda-boda stage, Kyagulanyi Ronald expressed fear saying that Traffic lights being off puts many lives in danger,”as a matter of fact, I am worried of what might happen, these traffic light have been off for a while now, to make matters worse, not even a single traffic police officer has been deployed here to guide traffic.”

Boda boda riders thanked the Rotaract Club of Nkumba University for its humanitarian gesture and appealed to authorities to restore the traffic lights. “This is a good gesture, thank you Nkumba University, however, I call upon Uganda National Roads Authority to fix the traffic lights as soon as possible.”

For nearly two weeks, the Nkumba stage traffic lights have been non-operational, posing a significant risk to the safety of road users.