Safe Kids Uganda

Injury Facts

• Accidental injury is the leading cause of death among children in Uganda, killing more children annually than disease, violence or suicide.

• According to the Uganda Road Safety Initiative, approximately 20 children die on the road each month in Uganda.

• Community surveys conducted by the Injury Control Center-Uganda and surveillance reports from hospital-based trauma registries identify traffic, burns and blunt force as the most common causes of accidental injuries.

Who We Are

Safe Kids Uganda recognizes that "Prevention is better than a cure" for the injury epidemic and aims to raise safety awareness in the developing country. 

Safe Kids Uganda activities include road traffic safety education for teachers and students, advocacy for road safety, improving the environment surrounding schools and ongoing child safety research.

What We Do

Safe Kids Uganda joined the Safe Kids Worldwide network in January 2003. It has three coalitions, located in the Mbale, Gulu and Kawempe regions. 

The ICC-U is the lead organization for Safe Kids Uganda and is currently developing injury surveillance systems in hospitals that have minimal resources, training injury prevention specialists, advocating for road safety and developing injury prevention programs in schools.

Where are we now? ( July 2005 - Recent Programs)

National Road Safety Week 2004

From December 6 to 10, 2004 , Safe Kids Uganda celebrated National Road Safety Week. The main celebrations took place at Ceternary Park where children entertained guests with song, drama, poetry and dance. Kawempe children marched throughout the city together with road safety advocates. Children also used craft supplies donated by Denver Metro Safekids Coalition. Bicycle helmets donated by Safe Kids Fargo Moorhead were given to children who ride their bikes to school everyday. The coalitions in Kawempe, Gulu and Mbale also distributed helmets.

Road Safety Campaign

Safe Kids Uganda conducted a safety audit in 20 primary schools in Kawempe that showed between three and five children's lives per school term were lost as a result of speeding in the areas around the schools. As a result, Safe Kids Uganda embarked on community interventions, beginning the construction of speed humps and the painting of a zebra crossing at a dangerous point where several children had been injured. The project was supported by the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication, traffic police, Rotarians, students, media and local government officials.

Child Pedestrian Injury Program

Safe Kids Uganda launched a child pedestrian injury prevention program in 50 primary schools in Kawempe. The program focused on traffic injuries among child pedestrians and their behaviors and attitudes. It was conducted in schools, homes and on the road for one year. Information was collected in police stations, schools, home and hospitals to assess the burden of traffic injury on child pedestrians. The Canadian Institute for Health Research and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto sponsored the program.

Other Resources

• Country Report 2003-2004