The Global Alliance for Non-Government organizations for Road Safety represented by HOVITA-Hope for Victims of Traffic Accidents handed over the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 to Hon. Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala.
The Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021 - 2030 calls on Governments and stakeholders to take a new path – one that prioritizes and implements an integrated Safe System approach that squarely positions road safety as a key driver of sustainable development. It also calls for actions that help the world hit the target of a 50% reduction in the number of road traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. This means that road safety should not be compromised or traded-off in order to achieve other social needs, road safety should not be approached as a stand-alone issue but as an integrated component of many different policy agendas.
This Global plan aims to inspire National and Local Government, as well other Stakeholders including Civil Society, Academia, Private sector, Donors, the Community and Youth Leaders, and other stakeholders to develop National and Local Action Plans and targets for the Decade of Action.
As a country, the Ministry is currently developing the National Road Safety Action Plan in collaboration with other stakeholders. The 2nd draft National Road Safety Action Plan was discussed with stakeholders on 1st October 2021 at Mestil Hotel, Kampala and it’s expected to be launched in December 2021, during the National Road Safety Week upon approval by TLT.
In order to support NGOs to use the launch to strengthen advocacy, the Global Alliance for Non – Government Organizations for Road Safety is coordinating a handover activity, where NGOs will hand over the Global Plan to their high-level decision makers, targeting Ministers and the Road Safety Agencies, who are accountable for road safety in their respective countries.
This is aimed at giving NGOs an opportunity to continue their specific, targeted advocacy for measures that will help to achieve the goals of the Decade of Action, such as the continued push for 30 km/h speed limit in areas with vulnerable road users.
In 2020, the former Hon. Minister of State for Transport led a delegation from Uganda and attended the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Stockholm, Sweden 19th – 20th February 2020. The meeting led to the Stockholm Declaration which was tabled before the UN General Assembly in September 2020. The UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/74/299 "Improving global road safety", proclaiming the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.
World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Regional Commissions, in cooperation with other partners in the UN Road Safety Collaboration, have developed a Global Plan for the Decade of Action that will be launched on 28th October 2021 in every country. The Global Plan aligns with the Stockholm Declaration, by emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to road safety, and calling on continued improvements in the design of roads and vehicles; enhancement of laws and law enforcement; and provision of timely, life-saving emergency care for the injured. It also reflects the promotion of policies to promote walking, cycling and using public transport as inherently healthy and environmentally sound modes of transport.