ROADS FOR GIRLS

BY KENNETH MULINDE FROM UGANDA

Roads for Girls was realised in Apac district, Northern Uganda, building upon the success of the #BeRoadSmartUG campaign, a Local Actions winning project in 2021, that promoted women's rights and road safety in Kampala, using creative activism to raise awareness of women's rights and safe mobility.

Roads for Girls advocated with key decision-makers in Kampala through a petition pushing for a gendered transport system that worked and responded to the safety needs of female road users, by enacting policies that guaranteed the safety of girls and women from uninvited verbal and physical attacks.

Roads for Girls was the first project addressing women's safety, road safety perceptions, and safe mobility among rural populations in Apac District. It aimed to reduce youth crash deaths and female harassment in Apac town as it transitioned into a city. By December 2022, the initiative promoted roads as safe spaces for women, enhanced youth inclusion in decision-making, and advocated for stricter traffic law enforcement. The project aligned with the Global Youth Statement for road safety, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.

The goal of the project was to create harassment-free, safe journeys for female road users and improve public safety through effective laws and compliance with traffic regulations, leading to a reduction in youth deaths from road crashes in Apac town.

ABOUT THE PROJECT LEAD

Kenny is a creative activist and is the team leader at Youth Arts Movement Uganda. He currently works as the Creative Activism Inspirator with Action Aid International Uganda and is a youth advocate with Education Above All. He was introduced to road safety in 2020 during the 2nd World Youth Assembly for Road Safety.

What inspires him most is knowing that he can do something to save more youth lives from road crashes and that every individual or collective action could potentially contribute to the achievement of the sustainable, equal and just world that is desired.

IMPACT SNAPSHOTS

• Trained and engaged 57+ young people in road safety advocacy.

• Secured government support to establish Road Smart Ninjaz as a community-based organisation to sustain youth-led road safety action.

ABOUT THE LEAD ORGANISATION

youth arts movement uganda (yamu)

Youth Arts Movement Uganda - YAMU works to improve youth lives in Uganda through creative activism for human-based approaches and gender responsive public service delivery. The organisation provide the team with creatives, technologies, office space and acted as a link between the project and government authorities of concern.