“a little care makes accidents & pollution rare”

AUTOSAFETY-UGANDA A Road Safety and Environmental Health Program

19 May 2020

Program Title AUTOSAFETY – UGANDA

Implementing Institution

WANYAMA AUTOSAFETY INITIATIVES(WAI)

Physical Address

WAI MAIN OFFICE: Plot 16 Mobutu road, Makindye – Kampala(U) Autosafety-g program: plot 271 Mbogo Rd, Greenhill drive Kibuli -Kampala(u)

Contact Person

Wanyama Robert Michael (Exec. Director WAI & program concept developer)

Proposed and running Projects

1. Halt 20,000+ air-pollution related infant deaths. 2. On the road to zero traffic deaths. 3. Spill no more – for healthy soils and clean aqua.

Prepared by Executive director

Contact Number & Email

+256 782 082 467

michael@autosafety-ug.org

wanyamarobertmichael@gmail.com

Program Summary 1.1. Overall objective

To improve promote road safety and health, reduce environmental pollution associated with burning fossil fuels

in automobiles and industrial equipment through creation of awareness, sensitization and capacity building from

the technical standpoint while lobbying for implementation of better policies with a view to minimize socio-

economic costs.

Special focus is targeted on motorists, mechanics with limited capacity and industrial equipment operators; for

the benefit of the most vulnerable including women, children and people with special needs.

1.2. Specific Objectives • Observe, collect data uncover possible human behavioral triggered causes of road accidents and excessive pollution

beyond regular reports.

• Minimize on the number of faulty automobiles on Ugandan roads.

• Improve motorist capacity and behavior plus elevation of the general public’s low attitude towards safety

• Improve on the quality, efficiency and usability of automobiles in Uganda.

• Lobby for better policies and laws on road safety and emission controls in Uganda with special attention on the

safety of women, children and people with disabilities

• Effectively carry out specific activities that will lead to achievement of lowest possible exhaust emission levels

• Reduce air, water and soil pollution that arise from use fossil fuels and related lubricants.

• Research, innovate and tap into clean transport and renewable energy systems.

1.3. Expected outcomes • Reduced incidences of road accidents in Uganda • Reduced pollution environmental pollution; air pollution in particular • Improved health courtesy of reduced air-pollution related illnesses. • Improved quality and efficiency of automobiles in the country

1.4. Indicators of achievement • Less accident reports

• Improved air quality levels

• Reduced number of broken-down automobiles

• Improved road traffic flow in urban centres • Increased awareness and elevated attitudes towards safety the general public

2. Implementing institution/Organization profile and history

The Autosafety-Uganda program is being implemented by Wanyama Autosafety Initiatives(WAI) a not for profit

organization registered to operate in Uganda with its Main offices in Makindye division of Kampala district.

WAI organization has been registered of recent in late February 2020; but the Autosafety – Uganda program has been

running since late 2017 as an individual community based initiative under the leadership of Wanyama Robert Michael

with a few members on his team.

After registration of WAI, this Program is now being run by a team of Professionals in automotive systems, safety and

environmental protection aspects led by;

1. Michael R. Wanyama (Executive director and concept developer; auto-technician, exp. driver)

2. Wetere John (Safety systems expert and safe driver)

3. Racheal Kansindi(Administrative assistant and environmentalist)

Under those 3 is are 10 different experienced men and women with sound skills in auto-mechanics, safe driving, public

health, graphics and information technology, environmental protection and more; all inclined towards the success of

this program.

Being a humanitarian program, Autosafety-Uganda is initially funded by its founders, with the executive director

inputting over 70% in its activities from his personal savings. Owing to the technical elements involved in the program,

we are having challenges in finding a funding partner from our local companies through CSR partly because only a

handful of companies are have CSR budgets or responsible officials do not fully understand our concept and the

emergencies it addresses. 97% of non-profits in Uganda are into human rights, HIV/AIDS, social development and a

few other aspects leaving the 3% into road safety and environmental protection with some having a perception that

those two areas are entirely government responsibilities.

Support to WAI in this program will greatly supplement government and other private sector entities in promotion of

road safety and reduction of environmental pollution with its related harmful consequences to human health and nature.

We have technical support and endorsement from government, but we need funding support to sustain the program. It’s

the first of its kind in the Sub-Saharan Africa to incorporate road safety and environmental protection at the same time.

Once it takes route, we hope to extend our cause to other countries within the region.

3. Problem/Situation Description summary

Uganda continues to record over 7,000 deaths due to road accidents annually while many sustain serious injuries or even

disability. World health Organization estimates that around 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles

in polluted air that lead to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and

respiratory infections, including pneumonia. Kampala, our capital is one of the worst polluted cities in the world with

Over 75% of air pollutants arising from the transport sector and industries that that burn fossil fuels. Its only in this crisis

period of COVID-19 that we have seen healthy levels of air quality and less accidents. That’s because the entire region is

under lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic, but after the situation normalizes accidents and air pollution

are expected to shoot high as many business will strive to survive the after effects of the pandemic; with safety as an

option. Based on our research, we strongly believe the rates of road accidents and environmental deteriorating pollution are ever

on the rise largely because we drive wrongly and maintain automobiles plus other fossil fuel burning equipment wrongly.

Also the general public's attitude towards safety is very low.

Through this project we were able to prove that over 80% of local mechanics have very limited capacity in terms of

knowledge, skills and necessary equipment to maintain and preserve the integrity of inbuilt safety and emission control

systems in automobiles. In addition to that, over 90% of motorists lack necessary skills and do not understand the

Highway code partly because of the low levels of literacy among them especially those in public transportation

businesses; or out of plain carelessness.

Most motorists, mechanics and industrial equipment operators do not understand how automobiles and other fuel burning

equipment relate to climate change or the very many pollution related diseases our people are dying from. For instance, it

has been realized that most cars and trucks that have been running on Ugandan roads for over 10 years have

nonfunctioning emission control and ABS systems among several other critical defects; a common practice by local

mechanics who don’t fully understand the significance of these systems in preventing accidents and controlling the

toxicity of emissions. They mess up these systems in effort to fix engine or other problems or simply don’t know what it

takes to properly maintain them. Over 90% of repair shops have been found to lack any form of electronic diagnostic

equipment for vehicles.

Weaknesses in enforcement of existing road safety and traffic laws by authorities only make matters worse. We don’t

have a working annual inspection system for automobiles in the country for road worthiness and emission control. The

only available project has stalled for over 3 years due to legislative issues. We are only hoping it becomes functional by

2021. It’s partly this program that acted as a wake-up call to government authorities like the traffic police and the ministry

of transport to realize that mechanics too need sensitization and capacity building to supplement its efforts in improving

road safety and fighting climate change.

For example, Uganda police traffic enforcement department has about 1600 officers country wide but less than 50 of them

are qualified and able to inspect vehicles for road worthless yet the largest number of vehicles in Uganda are not safe and

these are the same automobiles that are extremely high on emissions. Bringing this to light, we are currently in the process

of availing police with simple tools like low-cost tire tread gauges and pressure monitors; in this way all field officers will

have them to facilitate basic inspections beyond asking for drivers’ licenses. They will be able to properly check for tire

wear and inflation. This puts check on non-exhaust emissions like particles from tire wear, brakes wear or even increased

exhaust emissions due to under inflated tires. With this arrangement, traffic police officers will participate in raising

climate change awareness which also strengthens our collaboration with government to enhance the effectiveness of our

program.

4. Program Beneficiary Description

1. Pedestrians and cyclists. This is the most vulnerable group of people who are affected most affected by road accidents

and air pollution. They are comprised of women and children in poor slum areas living near factories, walking on

dusty roads filled with particulate matter and soot from poorly maintained vehicles. They inhale the worst quality of

air day and night with no form of air filtering. People with disabilities suffer similar ways. Most roads do not cater for

their inclusion they have to share the narrow with reckless, careless drivers. The program exists for their safety.

2. Motorists. Due to limited skill and knowledge capacity, they put their own lives and the lives of other road users at

risk when they drive recklessly, ignore to utilize the available safety measures like helmets and seat belts, practice

impaired driving deliberately taking advantage of weak law enforcement and so on. The program is strategically

planned to alter their behavior for improved road safety and lowered emissions.

3. Mechanics/machinery operators. These will benefit twice in terms of having their capacity built to handle more

complex tasks while earning better and having their safety improved.

4. The General Public using public road transportation means – In most cases people do not care to know the state

of automobiles they take for transport and rarely care to take advantage of available safety measures like using seatbelts

or helmets. With our detailed sensitization activities using evidence-based data, many will understand the significance

of prioritizing safety first.

5. The Environment. A steady downward trend in the rates of air and other forms of pollution associated with use of

automobiles and industrial equipment that burn fossil fuels will make a reasonable contribution to the fight against

climate change.

5. SWOT analysis of the Program/Project 5.1 Strengths and Opportunities

We have hopes and are determined to excel with this program because:

• The Autosafety-UG team is dedicated to this cause and its comprised of well-informed professionals in various

areas all inclined towards improving road safety and advocating for a cleaner pollution-free environment.

• We have full technical support from Uganda Police – Traffic & road safety department plus the Ministry of Works

and Transport through the National Road Safety Council and now the ministry of water and environment.

• We have external technical support from a few well established automotive tech support centers within the country.

These helps us in building capacity for unequipped less skilled mechanics.

• Working with driving schools to enhance new driver skilling guarantees future safe drivers.

• With recent technological advancements in communication systems, we are able to easily connect with vast

communities with people of varying age groups and lifestyles; making awareness creation a huge success provided

resources are available.

5.2 Weaknesses and Risks/Threats

The program faces low positive impact due to the following key factors.

• The program being a non-profit faces sustainability issues unless we have as several stakeholders for possible

financial, material and technical support.

• Low literacy levels in some mechanics and motorists. To mitigate this, we will need a bigger team to help us reach

the different local communities speaking different languages. This will take more resources.

• Misconception of the program for a political movement especially by public transport vehicle operators and vendors

of automobile parts & accessories. A few of those we have interacted with instead say they need to be helped in

bettering their working conditions to make their businesses profitable. A lot of effort & clarity of the program is

required to make them understand that this program is all about promoting the safety of our lives on the roads &

conservation of our environment from the pollution associated with the automobile industry.

• The poor attitude of Ugandans towards safety is a hiccup to the steady progress of the program as many road users

make "possible earnings/savings" a priority over safety. Extra effort & persistence is required in the program

• Resistance from traders dealing in counterfeit/unsafe automobile parts and accessories.

Effective Sensitization here will require support from the government; when strict laws against such items are

enforced.

6. AUTOSAFETY – UGANDA POGRAM DESCRIPTION AND ACTION/WORKPLAN FOR 2020-2025

Goal 1: Improve on road safety

Measures of Effectiveness: A downward trend in the number of road accidents coupled with increased awareness; nationwide/regionwide program recognition, less mechanical breakdowns

Objectives

Activities Planned to Meet Objectives

Staff/Partnership Member(s) Responsible

Current status

Completed by: (month & year)

Collection of initial research data on the cause of accidents beyond motorist recklessness; as seen in accident reports year by year.

1. Use of several camera systems to monitor physical conditions of automobiles, and monitor motorist behaviors, weakly enforced traffic laws.

2. Visiting garages with limited capacity and interact with them to establish points of weaknesses.

3. Explore and identify various market places for auto-parts and accessories to identify unsafe counterfeits

4. Data collection on kind of skills motorist learn from driving schools & mythologies

Michael Wanyama Mugabi Liniker Nkwasibwe Ali

Initial research initiated in 2016 and completed

June 2018.

Second data collection and research phase

initiated Jan 2020

October 2024

Reduction on the number of faulty automobiles on Ugandan roads

1. Sensitization and capacity building to

mechanics with limited capacity by organizing and conducting workshops in their communities.

2. Creation of awareness to the public of unsafe counterfeit automobile parts and accessories floating around on the Ugandan market

Michael Wanyama Nkwasibwe Ali Kimera Sam Wafula Alex

Community based capacity building workshops initiated but running at low scale due to lack of funding

October 2025

Improved driver capacity and behavior improvement plus elevation of the general public’s low attitude towards safety

1. Intensive campaigns against distracted driving especially use of phones behind the wheel; fatigued and drunk driving through community interactions, radio talk shows, television broadcasts and social media

2. Driver/motorist training programs in an accordance with the Uganda highway code.

3. Detailed enlighten of the public about the Uganda traffic highway code

4. Exploration and sensitization of the public especially motorists about all available safety measures for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians with special attention to children and people with special needs

5. Partnering and working with some driving schools for additional technical enlightenment of learner motorists about various motorists safety specifications

6. Creation of awareness and sensitization to the general public about embracing all available safety measures.

7. Conduction of road safety lessons in lower level schools and running of campaigns that promote safety of children and other vulnerable people on the roads.

Michael Wanyama Nkwasibwe Ali Muhawe Joan Nafula Eva

Community based activities initiated at low scale, social media at low scale, TV & radio not yet running. All limitations are due to lack of funding

October 2025

Improvement on the Quality of automobiles in Uganda

Detailed reviews of technical specs of common automobiles on Ugandan roads through TV & social media in respect to efficiency and safety; for road users to determine the safest affordable options

Michael Wanyama Nkwasibwe Ali Racheal K.

Not yet initiated due to lack of

funding

Research ongoing

October 2025

Advocating/Lobbying for better policies and laws with special inclusiveness of women, children and people with disabilities

Working with other road safety organizations and the civil society in lobbying for better policies and well enforced laws concerning road safety

Michael Wanyama Rachael Kansindi

Ongoing

N/A

Working with Uganda traffic in building better systems to enforce road safety laws and regulations

Col. Atwoki Kaija

Goal 2: Reduction of air pollution and other forms of environmental pollution from use of fossil fuels and related products.

Measures of Effectiveness: Improved air quality levels throughout the nation. Less lubricant spills by roadsides from broken down vehicles Increased awareness

Objectives Activities Planned to Meet Objectives Staff/Partnership Member(s) Responsible

Current status

Completed by: (month & year)

Collect data and research on the cause of high toxic emissions from automobiles and factories that burn fossil fuels plus how water bodies and soils get polluted by fuels and oil lubricants.

1. Use of low cost air quality portable

monitors and available external sources like the American embassy website to check for pollution statistics areas and determine where to collect data from

2. Visit local garages with limited capacity, interact with them and understand how the work with emission control systems, how they handle waste lubricants and determine their challenges for future capacity building

Michael Wanyama Nkwasibwe Ali Kimera Sam

Initiated in January 2019 and ongoing at a low scale due to lack of funding/resources

October 2024

Achieve lowest possible exhaust emission levels

1. Sensitization of motorists through TV, radio and social media to adopt and practice eco-friendly usage of fossil fuel burning automobiles for example reducing engine idle times, using quality fuels, utilizing pooling options, proper route planning to reduce driving distances, timely & proper automobile servicing, cycling wherever possible and so on.

2. Sensitizing and building capacity of mechanics to maintain and enhance the integrity of inbuilt emission control systems like catalytic converters, SCR, EGR and more.

3. Sensitization and capacity building to industrial/commercial equipment operators on best practices to lower exhaust emissions from internal combustion engine powered equipment like heavy duty generators

4. Creation of awareness and capacity building sessions to mechanics and service technicians on how to detect and fix all possible exhaust gas leaks and how to tune automobiles and other fossil fuel powered equipment for enhanced complete combustion.

Michael Wanyama Nkwasibwe Ali Kimera Sam Racheal Kansindi

Community based sessions initiated since late 2018 but at a very low scale due to lack of funding

October 2025

1. Creation of awareness and sensitization to mechanics and operators of boats or other ICE engine powered water vessels to build capacity on best practices to avoid spillage of fuel of fuel and oils in water bodies; for example a 2-stroke boat engine maybe easier to maintain

Reduce Water and soil pollution from fossil fuels and lubricants

but it consumes more fuel and owing to the fact that it burns fuel with lubricant, its higher on emissions. Recommending upgrades and offering technical guidance helps lower water pollution.

2. Sensitization and capacity building to mechanics of heavy commercial trucks and busses to properly handle oil waste products and avoid ground spillage. Spillages from broken trucks are common along highways and are usually washed away into water bodies or absorbed into soil thereby spoiling its nutrient balance for vegetation and food crops

Michael Wanyama Nkwasibwe Ali Kimera Sam

Community based sessions initiated but at a very low scale due to lack of funding.

October 2025

Research and innovation into emission free transport systems and renewable energy

We are working on a low cost 8KV self-sustaining power generator that can power up to 3 households. Research is still underway

Michael Wanyama Wafula Alex Wetere John

Initiated, research still underway

N/A

Advocating/Lobbying for better policies and laws with special

Working with the ministry of transport, National Environmental Management Authority plus the civil society on lobbying for policies and systems that protect water bodies and land from pollution associated with use of fossil fuels and related oil products

Michael Wanyama Racheal Kansindi Fred Onduri

Partially initiated, other partnerships being sought

N/A

.

8. Contacts and links Wanyama Robert Michael – Program Director/Concept developer +256 782 082 467 /0753 217 596 michael@autosafety-ug.org wanyamarobertmichael@gmail.com Rachel Kansindi - Program Secretary and accounts assistant +256 789 660 139 rachel@autosafety-ug.org Col. Atwoki Kaija - WAI advisory board member +256 772 407 834 kaija@autosafety-ug.org www.autosafety-ug.org Autosafety-UG Autosafety-UG