East African Business Week

Kampala, Uganda-The figures are horrific as every 24 hours six Ugandans die in road accidents and 33 suffer serious injuries. Over 2,000 people are killed each year in road crashes of which 41% of the victims are pedestrians.
With such a weak road safety stand, Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) in partnership with Taxi Ad Uganda has launched yet another road safety campaign dubbed 'Friends don't let friend drink and drive'.
That campaign will involve the use of 25 taxi cabs around beer belts carrying messages of road safety and alcohol consumption. "The last couple of years have seen an increase in road carnage on Uganda's roads but little has been done to alleviate the worrying trend," said Uganda Breweries Corporate Relations Manager, Rukh-Shana Namuyimba.
Namuyimba said that the campaign is intended to carry forward the message that alcohol and cars do not mix. "If you are to drink from a spot far from home, move along with some one who should not even taste to guarantee safety while driving," she added.
State Minister for Transport Steven Chebrot pledged government support to prevent under age drinking and consumption of alcohol while driving.
"Alcohol and cars cannot mix because the result of drinking while driving is imagining multiple path ways and feeling high which cause accidents," Chebrot said. "The government will continue working with the police to seize drivers and all road users who do not observe road safety measures."
The Assistant Commissioner Traffic anad Road Safety, Sarah Kibwika cautioned that drunken accident victims rarely survive because they experience severe bleeding without control.
"The Police is increasingly involved in operations regarding drink driving both day and night because cases increase towards the festive season," Kibwika said.
Taxi Ad MD, Brian Rwehabura said that the taxis will be role models for all road users and the messages they carry will easily reach out to the public with mobility. "One can hire the cab to any destination at an agreed price and to ensure safety driving," Rwehabura said.
Rwehabura is optimistic that the collective effort will raise awareness with drivers as to the number of crashes, particularly as a result of drink driving.