The man taking on Uganda’s dangerous roads
By BBC When former journalist, Joseph Bayanga, witnessed the death of three generations of a family on a Kampala road - a mother, daughter and grandchild – he decided enough was enough. More people die on Uganda’s roads – 14 every day – than anywhere else in East Africa. Kampala’s Mulago National Referral Hospital even has a special ward just for the drivers of boda bodas who account for the highest number of deaths. Boda bodas are the motorbike taxis which weave precariously through the traffic at every junction with one, two or even three passengers on their backs. So Joe...
Taking care of your body
By Joe Walker When planning to do long distance walks, it is important that you prepare yourself for it. Without proper preparation, the body will struggle. The Kampala to Bushenyi walk proved that to me. It was a walk to save lives and we therefore couldn’t afford to lose any! Our bodies were the major weapons we had, so we had to take good care of them and make sure we arrive alive and healthy. Months before the walk started, I visited the famous nutritionist Dr. Paul Kasenene to assess my body and guide on the appropriate foods to give me...
Choose your walking kit carefully
By Joe Walker Many have been asking how I ensured comfort and minimised risk of injuries all through the 340km Kampala to Bushenyi road safety walk. I think apart from good physical preparation, the other secret lies with the choice of tools aka weapons I invested in for the walk. As Benjamin Franklin said, “The best investment is in tools of one’s trade.” From the moment I shared my intentions for the Kampala to Bushenyi road safety walk, concerned friends, experienced runners, marathoners and ultra-runners all asked me about the kit. What shoes are you using? What are you putting on? The socks?...
Seven lessons from the Kampala 7 Hills 45km walk
By Joe Walker On Saturday, I had the pleasure to do a Kampala Seven Hills 45km walk with the ‘Crazy Summiters’. This awesome eight-hour walk covered some of the traditional hills of Kampala including Mengo, Rubaga, Namirembe, Makerere, Kololo, Nakasero, and much more. I set out with a childlike open heart and came back a rich man with life valuable lessons. Follow me step by step Take up every opportunity to challenge yourself and take your craft to another level. When a friend told me of a Seven Hills 45km walk, I thought about joining them and was excited but also a little scared and...
Walk your way to fitness
Know the benefits For many years, I perceived any physical activity done for fitness as rather complicated and too taxing. Then physical pain I experienced in the shoulder blade in 2021, due to some inflammations led me to a physiotherapist whose only prescription was: WALK. 1, 2, 3 steps, I walked away my pain. Those simple steps of a daily brisk walk birthed a whole fitness regime and now I live a healthier life. Here are some of the amazing benefits scientists say a regular brisk walk can do for you; Maintain a healthy weight and lose body fatPrevent or manage various conditions,...
Joe Walker at 2000km
On 29th September, 2021 I made the first step to walk to save my life. 365 days later, my “walkometer” has clocked 2,000km and I have been a part of several campaigns to save lives. One year ago I started walking exercises as recommended by an orthopedist as a remedy to persistent nagging pain in my shoulder blade. I apparently had a lot of potassium in my body and so exercise which caused me to perspire would enable me to sweat it out and reduce the pain. He advised me to do a brisk walk for at least for 30 minutes...
More than 70kms covered in two days as Joe walks to save lives
Mr Joseph Beyanga takes a brief rest during his second day the Joe Walker “Safe Roads Save lives” campaign. PHOTOS/ MATOUV EMMANUEL By Guest Writer The team making the 320km walk from Kampala to Bushenyi in the Joe Walker “Safe Roads Save lives” campaign have so far covered 72km. The walk that started on February 28 at the Monitor Publications Ltd headquarters in Namuwongo started its third day today, March 2nd. Led by Mr Joseph Beyanga, the campaign seeks to raise awareness on road safety. “We will make stops in Mpigi, Buwama, Lukaya, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Bushenyi, creating awareness, drumming up one message; safe roads save...
340km later, Joe still craves more walks
By Andrew Kaggwa What you need to know: He walked miles in his shoes. Joseph Beyanga, who earned himself the moniker, Joe Walker put in time to train, eat right and got a team to walk 340km from Kampala to Bushenyi .Joe Walker tells Andrew Kaggwa what it was like to walk miles in his shoes. The plan was to walk 340km from Kampala to Bushenyi to create awareness on road safety. This involved months of preparation, in the boardroom, church and on the road. Joseph Beyanga, alias Joe Walker, the head of radio at Nation Media Group- Uganda, says he was ready to start the walk...
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340km later, Joe still craves more walks
The plan was to walk 340km from Kampala to Bushenyi to create awareness on road safety. This involved months of preparation, in the boardroom, church and on the road. Joseph Beyanga, alias Joe Walker, the head of radio at Nation Media Group- Uganda, says he was ready to start the walk even on the Sunday leading up to Monday February 28, the day he was supposed to set off. He had a diet plan, a training that saw him walk specific distances to get his body ready, yet to the ordinary world, what he was yet to embark on was received...