'Joe Walker' embarks on 330km Kampala-Gulu trek for road safety awareness
Road safety champion Joseph Beyanga aka Joe Walker (C) poses for a photo after a press briefing at the launch if the trek to Gulu City in Kampala on February 18, 2025. PHOTO/GLORIA IRANKUNDA
What you need to know:
- The Joe Walker Foundation has spearheaded similar initiatives, including the Kampala-Bushenyi Walk (2022), Too Young to Die Walk to Mbale (2023), and the Get Home Safe Walk to Fort Portal (2024).
Road safety advocate Joseph Beyanga, popularly known as Joe Walker, is set to embark on a 10-day walk from Kampala to Gulu to raise awareness about road safety.
The initiative, themed “Safe Roads Save Lives”, aims to encourage Ugandans to prioritize road safety and reduce the alarming rate of traffic-related deaths and injuries.
The walk will begin on February 24, at 6:00 am from the Independence Monument in Kampala, where Minister of Works and Transport Gen Katumba Wamala will officially flag off participants.
Beyanga and his team will engage communities along the route—including boda boda riders, schoolchildren, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers—to promote safer road use.
“If time and logistics allow, we will visit as many places as possible, including Kiryandongo Hospital, which often receives many accident victims. Our goal is to listen to their stories, understand what could have been done differently, and remind them that these tragedies should not be happening,” Beyanga said at a press briefing on February 18 in Kampala.
Growing movement
The Joe Walker Foundation has spearheaded similar initiatives, including the Kampala-Bushenyi Walk (2022), Too Young to Die Walk to Mbale (2023), and the Get Home Safe Walk to Fort Portal (2024).
Road safety champion Joseph Beyanga aka Joe Walker (C) participates in a road safety awareness campaign recently. PHOTO/FILE/HANDOUT
These campaigns have sparked national conversations about road safety and responsible driving.
“Every year, we see improvements in how people use the roads. While a lot of work remains, there is growing awareness and responsibility among road users,” said Joe Walker Project Manager Sarah Nalule Walakira.
Uganda records an average of 14 road fatalities daily, with 70 others sustaining injuries, according to the 2023 police report.
Careless overtaking and speeding account for 52% of accidents, costing the country nearly 5% of its GDP in accident-related expenses.
Beyanga believes “grassroots activism, digital advocacy, and media engagement will help foster a culture of responsible road use and encourage safer habits.”
10-day journey through key towns
The walk will span 10 days, with scheduled stops in Bombo, Luwero, Nakasongola, Migyera, Kafu, Kigumba, Bweyale, Kamdini, Bobi, and concluding in Gulu.
The Kampala-Gulu Road Safety Walk is supported by Nation Media Group, UNOC, Jubilee Allianz, Rwenzori Water, NBS TV, Sanyuka TV, Pride Microfinance Limited, Nicole Foundation, and Responsive Drivers Uganda in Gulu.
