Kampala — A ROAD safety campaign, organised by the Uganda Orthopedic Association, has been launched. The drive kicked off last week with a march from Mulago Hospital through Yusuf Lule Road to Hotel Africana in Kampala.

A conference was also held at Hotel Africana to discuss strategies to deal with the challenge.

The campaign will address the high road carnage that claims numerous lives annually.

The Orthopedic Association, uganda telecom, Johnson and Johnson, Phillips Pharmaceuticals, the Police, Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association and bodaboda operators are sponsoring the drive.

Former orthopedic association president Dr. Ben Mbonye said the association was spearheading the campaign because the department handles many victims of road accidents.

Dr. Frederick Mutyaba, the current president, said there was need to bring all stakeholders on board.

"We hope to come out with a united voice. We are happy that the stakeholders, including those in the public transport business like UTODA, and the bodaboda riders, are keen on this," Mutyaba said.

He commended the Police on the recent crackdown on errant bodaboda cyclists in the city, saying it had reduced the number of road accidents.

According to the recent traffic report, about 12,000 people are injured in road accidents every year. The critical accident time is between 3:00pm and 9:00pm.

The World Health Organisation estimates that 3,500 fatalities occur due to road accidents everyday, with 85% of them in developing countries like Uganda.