On the roadside in Kampala, a boda boda rider lies motionless as bystanders frantically wave down cars. Minutes feel like hours before help arrives. When a police truck (not an ambulance) finally makes it through the traffic, it is too late. The young man, just 28 years old, succumbs to his injuries. Sadly, his story is far from unique.
According to Uganda’s latest Annual Health Sector Performance data, the capital recorded an estimated 1,171 road traffic fatalities between 2020 and 2021, nearly double the number captured in official police records.
Vulnerable road users; pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists make up the majority of these deaths, with severe head injuries cited as the leading cause. For a country where motorcycles and taxis dominate daily transport, these statistics paint a grim picture.
Closing Uganda’s EMS Gap
Despite progress in Uganda’s healthcare system, significant challenges persist, particularly in emergency medical services, often the difference between life and death, remain characterized by untimely and ineffective care. Without EMS, the country risks losing more of its young, productive population to preventable deaths on the road.
We, at the Union, are thrilled to share a new chapter for our members: a collaboration with Preserve A Life.
This partnership addresses the gaps in Uganda’s emergency medical services directly by leveraging the widespread boda-boda network.
With over 1.2 million registered riders, we are turning our extensive network of riders into a rapid-response Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system.
Training the Frontline
The collaboration is built on training our riders as Community First Responders (CFRs). Both male and female riders aged 18 and above will be nominated in Kampala and nearby districts to undergo Emergency Health Services (EHS) training.
To be eligible, each nominated rider must successfully pass a pre-qualification test given by Preserve A Life. We’ll also provide training spaces for in-person classes, which include didactics, skills, simulations, and field rides.
Preserve A Life will cover tuition and trainer fees, provide training equipment, and manage the virtual training platform. The 12-week program will cover essential skills like emergency triage, CPR, airway management, and trauma stabilization. No direct payments will be made to trainees for undertaking the skilling.
Once certified, our members will receive a Basic Life Support/First Aid certificate from the Centre for Emergency Health Sciences (CEHS) in the USA.
Upon successful completion of the training (with a minimum of 85% attendance), trainees will receive their EHS certificates that will be valid for two years.
Trained members will be assigned to various hospitals and considered for full-time employment by Preserve A Life.
Our members will pay a small fee of UGX 50,000 for their ID and branded uniform shirt. In true Union style, they will also be given branded E-bikes and helmets.
