Ten years after surviving a horrific road accident that left her bedridden for months, National Resistance Movement Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja has joined forces with police to launch a road safety campaign aimed at curbing dangerous driving along the Kampala-Gulu highway.
The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday at Wobulenzi town in Luwero District, carrying deep personal significance for Namayanja, whose life changed on October 20, 2015, when the vehicle carrying her and her mother collided with a truck at Kigogwa near Bombo.
A Brush with Death That Sparked a Mission
At the time of the crash, Namayanja was serving as NRM Treasurer and was traveling from Kampala to Nakaseke to preside over a groundbreaking ceremony for Bidda Buggya Health Centre III. The collision left her with severe injuries that confined her to bed for several months, while her mother, Catherine Namirembe Sebbowa, her driver, and her escort escaped with minor injuries.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Namayanja described her survival as nothing short of miraculous and said the experience compelled her to dedicate herself to preventing similar tragedies from claiming other lives.
"What happened to me could happen to anyone," she said during the launch. "I survived, but many others have not been so fortunate. This campaign is my way of giving back and ensuring that families do not have to endure the pain of losing loved ones on our roads."
Alarming Statistics Drive Urgency
The campaign comes against a troubling backdrop of rising road fatalities in Luwero District, where 114 people lost their lives in road crashes in 2025 alone. Authorities attribute the high death toll to reckless driving, speeding, and poor adherence to traffic regulations along the busy Kampala-Gulu highway.
The partnership between Namayanja and the police will focus on sensitizing motorists and pedestrians about road safety, enforcing traffic laws, and promoting responsible driving habits. The campaign is expected to involve community outreach programs, road signage improvements, and increased police patrols along accident-prone stretches of the highway.
Community Response and Way Forward
Local leaders and residents have welcomed the initiative, expressing hope that it will bring much-needed attention to the dangers posed by the highway. Many have called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and better road infrastructure to reduce the frequency of accidents.
Police officials present at the launch emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility and urged all road users to exercise caution and respect traffic laws.
As the campaign gains momentum, Namayanja's story serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need for collective action to make Uganda's roads safer for all.
