Joe Walker, partners visit accident victims at Mulago Hospital
By David Mujuni
Road safety activist Joseph Beyanga commonly known as Joe Walker and friends on Wednesday visited and commiserated with accident victims admitted at Mulago National Referral Hospital. The visit is part of their activities as they prepare for the Kampala 45-kilometre walk slated for Saturday, June 17, 2023.
The group delivered assorted items including sugar, bread, soap and others to the patients, and encouraged them, saying they are in the right hands, at Mulago Hospital. The team was hosted by Dr. Rose Byanyima, the hospital’s Executive Director.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Beyanga noted that many people would not be driving if the country had a working transport system. He says only 20% of Kampala’s road infrastructure is safe for pedestrians.
“If we had a working public transport system that is reliable, then maybe many of us would not be driving and the roads would be less congested. But what do we have at the moment? A road infrastructure less than 20% is safe for all users. We are talking about pedestrians, cyclists, and everybody,” Beyanga said.
Sarah Nalule, the Joe Walker Chief Coordinator noted that the Hill to Hill Kampala walk will be flagged off from Sheraton Hotel, Kampala at 6am. She says the group will have their first stop at Sankara Library in Bugoloobi at about 9am.
“So we’ll leave Sankara at about 9:45am and head to Lukuli through industrial area, it’s an interesting route. Then we’ll have our lunch in Lukuli at 1 o’clock and leave at about 2 o’clock,” Nalule said.
“We have three kinds of walks. We have the baby walk, it is a 15-kilometre walk, then we have the youth walk which is from Sheraton Kampala to Lukuli and the walk for the mature [adult walk] which is a 45 kilometre walk. We intend to finish between five and six o’clock so spare your Saturday and get your comfortable shoes on.
Nalule urged interested individuals to log on to www.joewalker.org and register for the walk of their choice, free of charge.
The walk is sponsored by Nicole Foundation, Jubilee Allianz, Nation Media Group, Sheraton Hotel and RoSACU who called for joint efforts in curbing road crashes that kill and injure many Ugandans.
