Road safety call grows stronger at the 2025 Joe Walker remembrance walk
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA
The morning of November 15th marked the third annual Joe Walker Remembrance Walk in Kampala, held in honour of victims of road crashes.
At 6.43am, dozens of walkers set off from Sheraton Hotel Kampala, moving through Speke Road, Jinja Road, Lugogo Bypass, York Terrace and Acacia Avenue, with marshals stationed along the route to guide and refresh them, and reinforce messages of responsibility on the road.
At different points, motorists stopped to read the placards. Some smiled while others nodded with a sense of acknowledgement.
This year’s walk was more people-driven. Teams wore customised shirts, while others wore shirts honouring friends lost in crashes. One group, Team Oscar, walked in memory of their family member and friend Oscar Ojambo, who died in a road crash on the Northern Bypass in December 2024. Led by his widow, Ms Catherine Natalie Ndagire, the team drew quiet attention along the route. Joseph Beyanga aka Joe Walker, Founder of Joe Walker Foundation called their presence his highlight of the day.
“They are not walkers who do this often. They just came to honour a life. This means it is more than just the numbers of the people that show up,” he said.
More than 350 people registered for this year’s Joe Walker Remembrance Walker, a rise from 300 who registered last year. They turned up in all forms, young, old, corporate groups, solo walkers and fitness enthusiasts.
Team Trail Blazers pose for a victorious photo moment with Joe Walker(centre) and his wife Ms Carol Beyanga (third right)
Joe Walker walked between groups, checking on people, greeting riders, and occasionally stepping off the road to speak to motorists.
He carried the weight of the message openly. “14 people dying on Uganda’s roads every day is not just a number. These are fathers, mothers, sisters and daughters whose lives are suddenly cut short,” he said as he walked through the Acacia stretch.
Shared mission
The walk itself was mixed terrain. For those sticking to the 10 kilometre route, the journey was manageable. But those taking on longer distances up to 60 kilometres, found themselves looping through Kololo hills several times. The challenge did not dim their spirits.
“It was tough, but nowhere near the challenge we have on our roads,” Joe said.
Conversations along the way brought the message home. A boda rider conversing with Joe expressed frustration at fellow riders.
Joe Walker interacts with a boda boda rider along the Acacia stretch
“These kids are unruly, but the government also leaves us on our own. No enforcement, no control,” the boda boda rider said.
Joe pushed strongly for enforcement that does not sleep. He noted that crashes peak between 6pm and 9pm, yet those are the hours when police officers withdraw from the roads, especially upcountry.
“Nice laws on paper are useless if we are not enforcing them. We need lights that work, and enforcement that does not go silent,” he said.
Support for road crash victims in hospitals
This year also carried a fundraising angle. People contributed whatever they could to support road-crash victims at Mulago Hospital and other health facilities. Contributions stood at Shs2.4 million as of the date of the walk and had already gone into equipment for the trauma ward. More contributions poured in during the event, including Shs10 million from Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS). Joe said the support is used to buy supplies for different hospitals.
“We are working with the Orthopedic Society of Uganda, who guide us on what is needed. We buy the necessary items and deliver them to different hospitals to support victims of road crashes. If contributions continue to come in, we may even bring some Christmas cheer to patients who have been in hospital for more than three months without a single visitor,” he explained.
Across the route, different stories unfolded.
By 11:34am, those walking shorter distances were winding down. A few still moved with steady energy, while others pushed through visible fatigue. At noon, many of those doing the 60 kilometre walk had reached the 40 kilometre mark. Sweat-stained shirts and tired feet told their story of purpose, unity and insistence.
Stella Kamakune, a returning walker, had started her 10 kilometres earlier than most. She set off at 6:30am and completed her walk in one hour and 37 minutes. She walked solo, then left for work.
“I took part because this is affecting every one of us. You never know when you need that safety on the road. We are all road users and so we need to be as safe as possible,” she shared.
Others joined for personal reminders. Mr Allan Ssempebwa, the senior communications officer at the Ministry of Works and Transport, walked from 6:40am and finished at 9:17am. He said the walk was his way of taking responsibility as a citizen. For him, the walk served as a nudge to the public that road safety remains a national concern.
“It is a reflection of what we should do as those still alive, to protect our own lives on the roads and also save the lives of other Ugandans because our roads are shared spaces,” he emphasised.
The route also attracted first-timers. 14 -year-old Ramin Muwanga walked with his cousin, completing his first Joe Walker experience under the watch of his mother, Diana Kobusingye. He said he wanted to try something new and had found the experience fun and challenging.
Along the Lugogo stretch, marshals helped maintain order. Francis Wesula, stationed at the Lugogo traffic lights, kept walkers crossing safely. Close by was Sunday Julie, another marshal, who had moments earlier almost seen a boda boda accident
Sunday Julie guided walkers along Lugogo by pass
“Two riders collided after ignoring the traffic lights, an incident that echoed the purpose of the entire walk,” she said.
Among the volunteers guiding walkers was Mehta Sarah Mukonyezi, a student from Uganda Christian University (UCU). She said the experience was exciting because walkers stayed motivated and kept encouraging one another.
Mehta Sarah Mukonyezi, volunteer marshal at the 2025 Joe Walker remebrance walk
Runners and walkers who train regularly were also present. Ken Kayiri and Mark Kakuru Tushabe from team Trailblazers said they joined the walk as part of their fitness routine and as their way of contributing to road-safety awareness.
Joe emphasised that the walks will only have true impact when every journey on Uganda’s roads ends safely.
The day closed with the Joe Walker Foundation presenting awards to the top performers. In the solo category, third place went to Isaac Muganda, who completed 60 kilometres in nine hours and 39 minutes. Kenneth Watsala took second with a time of nine hours and 33 minutes. The overall winner, John Ssembogo, finished the 60 kilometre challenge in eight hours and six minutes.
The top group, Team Trailblazers, also covered 60 kilometres by completing 10 kilometres each and passing a baton between members. Both Ssemobogo and each of the Trailblazers members received Shs 300,000.
