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...
Thank you: Joe Walker concludes Kampala to Fort Portal trek
By Joe Walker The #JoeWalker Kampala to Fort Portal road safety awareness walk came to a conclusion yesterday with a series of activities around Fort Portal city. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the team, let me take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for all the support. A big shout out to everyone who stopped their daily activities to participate in our engagements, the community leaders who mobilised people to attend and participate in our interactive sessions, and everyone who stopped to give us a bottle of water, sugarcane and bananas. A big...
Day Ten: What a day
For the first time in 10 days, I stepped into a car again and was driven to St. John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal City. Several road safety advocates, city leaders, area MPs, the clergy and regional police leadership and later the RCC joined the #JoeWalker team that had just concluded the Kampala to Fort Portal road safety walk. We all joined hands for a road safety awareness march around the city, then painted a zebra crossing and proceeded to church for a thanksgiving service. During the service, the Dean of St. John’s Cathedral Kabarole, the Very Rev. Can. Ezra Musobozi, acknowledged...
Day 9: Joe Walker, friends reach Fort Portal
The #JoeWalker Kampala to Fort Portal road safety awareness walk has safely docked in Fort Portal. We walked through the districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi, Mityana, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo and finally Kabarole. We set off this morning from King Oyo Model Farm in Bugaaki and at 10:25pm crossed into Kabarole District. By 3pm we were in Fort Portal City, the seat of Tooro Kingdom. We were joined by students, leaders and administrators from Uganda Pentecostal University at Kaswa, who also brought us tonnes of refreshments. As we emerged out of Mpanga Tea Estates, we were joined by the DPC of Fort Portal...
Day Eight: We’re almost there
The #JoeWalker team lifted off from Kiregesa Primary School where we camped for the night and we are now in Mahagwe, hopefully our last resting point before we dock at our destination. From Kiregesa as you descend down into the valley, you can’t avoid seeing the dangerous sharp corner and what looks like a bit of narrow road. Locals and doctors at Kyenjojo District hospital say many have lost their lives there. We trudged into Kyenjojo town, where we were welcomed by S3 students of Kyenjojo SS (they all reminded me of our daughter who is also in S3.) And we proceeded...
Day Seven: Joe Walker celebrates birthday, highlights road safety concerns
By Joe Walker Guys it’s day seven of the #JoeWalker Kampala to Fort Portal road safety awareness walk. We set off from Kyegegwa at 6:50am, and at 7:18pm, we were at our campsite, 47km from the start. The actual distance is 45km but I added an extra 2 special kilometers to make 47 to celebrate my 47th birthday. One of the things that stands out today on our Kyegegwa to Kiregesa walk is that drivers have made that Miryante stretch a black spot that needs serious attention because of the speeding, racing and reckless overtaking. The road markings have long faded, the signage...
Day Six: Joe Walker enters Tooro Kingdom
By Joe Walker It’s been one rollercoaster of a day. We entered Tooro Kingdom shortly after 11am. We were welcomed by Minister of Education in Tooro Kingdom Owek. Godfrey Rwembebera Adyeeri and other kingdom officials, plus the Kyegegwa OC Traffic Afande Kwasibwe. We were in Kyegegwa by 5pm. After all the protocols and mobilisation of logistics were done, at about 6pm we started painting the Zebra crossing. By 8pm, Kyegegwa had its only Zebra crossing; hopefully it will change the narrative around road safety. We had great support from Tooro Kingdom, Deputy Town Clerk Douglas Mugenyi, and the OC Traffic Police Kyegegwa and his...
Day Five: Joe Walker, friends reach Mubende
By Joe Walker With our eyes set on scaling 15km from Kyenda to Mubende before 9am, #JoeWalker Kampala to Fort Portal road safety awareness walk crew rolled the engines and hit the road at cruise control, at 6am. As the clouds started peeling off the skies for the sun to rise, we were halfway through our trek and Mubende right now is under our feet. We were set for engagements with boda boda riders, roadside market vendors, and then the municipality leaders. Our first stop today was in Mubende Municipality. Our first engagement was with the Market Vendors Association. Oh boy, it...
Day Four: No money is worth risking your life
By Joe Walker What a beautiful start to day four of the #JoeWalker Kampala to Fort Portal road safety awareness walk. We kicked off the day with an interactive session with the pupils of Kyakatebe Primary School. We taught the children the ABCs of road safety and armed them with a few tips to cross the roads safely and #GetHomeSafe. At 7:57am, it was our turn to put those tips into action as we hit the road heading towards Mubende. The first thing that hit me was the writing on a truck, “No Money is Enough”. It stayed with me as we...