Safety and security tips for the festive season in Uganda

Do not lose it all in the last 10 days of the year

COMMENT | Samson Tinka | As we enter the final bend to Christmas and New Year ’s Day celebrations, a lot is at stake including life, cars and other valuables.  End of year festive celebrations in Uganda as is  around the world come with pomp, rush, over drinking, over speeding, long travels, congestion at airports, hyper economic transactions and increased cross boarder movements. All these activities compromise safety, health and security if caution, care and diligence are not taken care of.

In Uganda, taxi and bus fares go up, shopping arcades and streets fill up and food markets are jammed. Traffic police double their efforts and deployment on roads while bars and supermarkets increase their sales. Playgrounds host thousands of people celebrating or preparing for xmas related activities.

Ideally, the more the activities, the more safety, health and security is compromised. This column today reminds us that we all individually and collectively ought to ensure that safety, health and security basic principles are followed so that come 2^nd January 2023, we have a positive story to tell.

It is unacceptable that on Christmas Day, many will be hospitalized either for transport related injuries or injuries out of bar fights. Let’s be reminded that its possible to enjoy the festive season in peace as long as we stick to better safety, health and security practices.

Home safety and security

This is the season when many urban dwellers leave their town homes for the village. Endavour to leave occupants in your town house. Where possible contract a private armed secuity guard for the days you will be away. This guard should share a 12 hour report until you come back. The guard should stay outside the house. Security lights must be on and working, use strong padlocks, you can even install intruder alarms if the finances allow. Security and safety is not cheap.

Travel safety and security

Service your car well on time. Check brakes, oil levels, tyres, wheel alignment, tyre balance, radiator water levels, and coolant. Listen out for unusual noise from both the engine and underneath . Do not rush the mechanic. Do not test drive after service, repairs and maintenance. Check car lights and wipers. Start the road journey well on time. Take breaks every after two hours to stretch and sip water. Both the driver and the passengers should wear safety belt. Avoid racing with other road users. Don’t drive over 100kms per hour at any time. 80KMphr is the safe zone. Children should seat behind with one adult. Please follow traffic rules and PLSE GET ENOUGH SLEEP before the trip. Do not sleep on the wheel, and if you feel sleepy, stop, pour some water on your head and take a break. Best if you have a co-driver to take over.

Shopping

During this time, there is a lot of stealing, bag snatching, trading in counterfeit currency notes, sell of expired goods, adulterated, underweight products etc.  Chances of being robbed or sold a wrong product is high. It is advisable that we buy from recognized shops especially supermarkets, obtain and keep a receipt. Check closely expired date of the product you buying. We all know by January that Dec 25 is X-mas day, why wait to shop today or tomorrow. That is poor planning and with it come consequences.

Air travel

Those intending to travel by air, prepare and be at airport on time at least 4 hours before departure. Check-in queues are long, document verification protocols requires extended time. Have your travel document kept together, ticket, yellow fever card, vaccination card, passport and any other document. Where possible, keep your valuables in your carry-on language, especially cash. Check the weather forecast to the place you going to so that you carry necessary attire. On arrival at airport, use airport taxi and try to memorize the number plate. Avoid private cars or lifts.

Do not carry huge cash

Where possible completely avoid carrying cash. Use Mobile money, bank transfers of ATM facilitated transactions like POS or ATM withdraws. Criminals are 99% lucky and they normally hit it right. Do not give them a chance.

Do not broadcast your travel plans on social media

It is common to see WhatsApp and other social medial status with messages like, “Dubai here I come”, “Mbarara I cannot wait to reach”, “2 hours to enter Arua city” etc. Such messages alert the bad guys to firm up their plans on vandalizing your house and vehicle left behind. Go to your destination in silence and return in peace.

Carry some form of identification

Carry either a copy of a National ID, a driving permit, or even work ID with you for both identification but also emergency response and communication purposes. Most people move like cows. Infact cows have travel permits signed off by district veterinary officers. So if cows and goats have identification why not you a Ugandan human being?

Inform your immediate relatives of any travel

In case you intend to move a far distance, inform close people near you so that in case of no or delayed return, this team can know where to start the search.

Eat money sparingly

As we merry make, let us be reminded that January is there. It’s a month known to have 78 days.

It is said in Kampala that ba-summer sell their expensive watches and phones in January to get money for return tickets.

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As I pen off this article, let me remind you that safety, health and security is primarily an individual responsibility.

Governments offer a supplementary role especially of enacting laws and enforcement.  Let us get the basics right, avoid the obvious especially drink and driving, over speeding and domestic violence.

There is life after 31^st Dec. Life has no spare parts and Mulago is not the best place to start your new year. My uncle Col Benjamin Mwesiga always reminds me that “everything is possible if we have life.”

Preserve life by adhering to safe, secure and health basic principles. In case it’s difficult for you, you will make the headlines as being among those that either died, killed or got injured. Too much of anything usually leads to trouble for you.

SCP Enanga will be happy to announce the fatal and injured figures in one of his  first press briefings early January.

Merry Christamas – and a happy new year.