Day three: Slow down
The #JoeWalker Kampala to Gulu road safety walk today took us from Katikamu to Nakasongola. We saw a beautiful sunrise, speeding vehicles, narrow roads, very unhappy but cheerful boda boda riders and of course, faced the scorching heat. We kicked off at 5:45am and traversed through a long endless straight road. As soon as you join the main road, what hits you first is the fast-moving vehicles, private SUVs, heavy trucks, buses and even motorcycles. Everyone is flying, given its early hours with no traffic police on the road. Yeah, you can imagine what that is like. Crazy. Total disregard of...
Day Two: Wobulenzi-Luwero stretch, a disaster waiting to happen
The stretch between Wobulenzi and Luwero is a big disaster waiting to happen: too many schools, many speeding cars, poorly marked roads, no speed barriers, boda bodas loaded with children being dropped off at different schools, many children in different shades of uniform walking in different directions and numerous “traffic wardens” helping them cross the road at different points. That’s the scene that opened the chapter of #JoeWalker Kampala to Gulu road safety awareness walk. After a brief introduction to the heat on day one, we purposed to hit the road early today and be off the road before the sun unleashed...
Day One of Kampala-Gulu Road Safety Walk
Day one of the Kampala to Gulu #JoeWalker road safety walk kicked off at 6:38 am with State Minister for Transport Hon. Fred Byamukama handing us the National flag at Sheraton Hotel. [caption id="attachment_17746" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Joe Walker with State Minister for Transport Hon. Fred Byamukama and MD of Jubilee Allianz Paul Kavuma[/caption] The first thing we saw as soon as we started off was school children cris-crossing Kampala roads to get to school with boda bodas riding in all directions including in opposite directions of one-way roads. They were also carrying school children and in some cases adults too. At the...
Joe Walker launches Kampala-Gulu Walk for safer roads
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA Over the past few years, Joe Walker aka Joseph Beyanga has become a familiar sight on Ugandan roads, walking long distances to spark conversations about road safety. On February 24, 2025, he and his team will continue on that path by setting off on a 10-day journey from Kampala to Gulu. The walk under the theme "Safe Roads Save Lives" will begin at the Independence Monument in Kampala where Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala will flag off the participants at 6a.m. Joe Walker and his team will pass through several towns, engaging communities in discussions about safer road...
The Remembrance walk for me was personal – Ponton
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA When Alex Ponton arrived in Uganda a decade ago, he likely did not imagine himself walking 51 kilometers in a single day. Known for his entrepreneurial ventures and investments, Ponton had been, like most residents, navigating Uganda’s challenging roadways. This shared experience sparked his interest in the 2024 Joe Walker Remembrance Relay Walk. “I have been in Uganda for ten years now, and I have seen firsthand how road safety is a major issue,” Ponton shares. Participating in the walk was personal. He wanted to do something to raise awareness and contribute to the cause. “About seven or eight years ago,...
How teamwork led Trailblazers to victory
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA Mark Kakuru Tushabe, a 21-year-old student at YMCA Comprehensive Institute, never anticipated that a simple decision would lead to a memorable experience. As part of the University Fitness Club's regular runners and marathoners, Tushabe and his teammates were used to physical challenges. When the 2024 Joe Walker Remembrance Walk was announced, they saw it as a perfect opportunity to compete as a team. After gathering a group of willing participants, the team quickly realised choosing a name was just as important as the walk itself. "We had a vote, and names like Walkaholics and Trailblazers came up," Tushabe recalls....
Team Priscilla: Pushing limits and building bonds during the walk
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA Team Priscilla, named after Priscilla Kataaha, one of its members, embarked on the Joe Walker Remembrance Walk with a unique sense of togetherness. The team, consisting of Priscilla, Jeremiah Naloda, and Victor Akena, was formed out of necessity when Priscilla found herself without a partner after her teammate dropped out. The trio bonded over the course of the event walking. Akena shares their experience. Q: How did you prepare for the Joe Walk Remembrance walk as Team Priscilla? A: We were prepared for it because we’ve walked before. We regularly walk and have participated in marathons. I’m a sports person, I...
Meet the ladies who walked 60km
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA On November 17, 2024, Stella Kamakune, Resty Nabatte, and Jacqueline Busingye, known as Team Bombastic, took on the challenge of walking 60 kilometres in the Joe Walker Remembrance Walk. Completing the trek in 12 hours and 12 minutes, they share their inspiring journey of endurance and motivation. How did you prepare physically and mentally for the 60km walk? Stella: I’m part of a group where we walk at least three kilometers every day, so exercise is just part of me. Resty: I’d heard that regular walking helps you gauge how far you can go in a day. If you can walk...
How Ssembogo became the fastest walker in the Remembrance Walk a second time
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA John Ssembogo, was crowned the fastest walker in the November 17 Joe Walker Remembrance Walk, completing 60 kilometres in 8 hours, 22 minutes, and 58 seconds. This marks his second win. He shares the strategies and passion behind his achievement. As the fastest walker, what techniques or strategies did you use to maintain your pace over such a long distance? I’ve mastered pacing, knowing when to push harder or ease up. I adjust my stride and effort based on the terrain-uphill, downhill, or flat, to maintain a steady pace. Early on, I matched the pace of a group but broke...
How a mother inspired her daughters to walk
BY GLORIA IRANKUNDA For Veronica Primrose Kisaakye, walking is more than just a physical activity. It is a lifeline, a way to reconnect with health, and to bond with her children. On November, 17, 2024, she and her daughters, Gabriella Atuhairwe Twesige (13) and Raphaella Atugonza Twesige (11) walked 10 kilometres in the Joe Walker Remembrance Relay Walk turning what could have been a challenging experience into a powerful lesson in resilience and family unity. Ms Kisaakye, an entrepreneur and mother of three, shared how walking has transformed her life. “I used to suffer from severe back issues. There were times I would...