DRAMA THAT SAVES LIVES: ROAD SAFETY TAKES CENTER STAGE IN UGANDA’S 2025 MDD FESTIVALS

For the second time, road safety has been officially included as one of the national themes for the 2025 Music, Dance, and Drama (MDD) festivals, thanks to the tireless advocacy of Safe Way Right Way (SWRW) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES).

In an exclusive conversation with SWRW Project Officer, we explore how this unique initiative came to life, what it means for communities, and why it might just save countless lives.

Q: Road safety isn’t something most people would associate with drama and dance. What inspired this move to integrate it into school festivals?

SWRW Officer: Road safety affects every household. We realized that if we want long-term behaviour change, we need to start early and start where it resonates most. Music, dance, and drama are powerful tools of communication in Uganda. They entertain, educate, and provoke reflection. By weaving road safety into these performances, we’re speaking directly to the hearts of children and communities in a way traditional curriculums can’t.


Q: How did you get the Ministry of Education and Sports on board?

SWRW Officer: Its going to be the second time for Road safety inclusion into the competitions. We’ve been working with the Ministry for several years through the VIA project. After seeing how schools voluntarily incorporated road safety in past MDD competitions, we approached the Ministry with data and examples to show the impact. They saw the value and agreed to officially include it as one of the 2025 festival themes basing on the reaction and the impact it brought in the 2024 MDD competitions. That decision was a turning point.


Q: How are teachers and students being prepared to deliver this new theme effectively?

SWRW Officer: We’re running regional Training of Trainers (ToTs) workshops. Recently, we were in Iganga where we trained educators selected by the Ministry. These trainers will go on to train MDD teachers across the country. We facilitated sessions on Uganda’s road safety statistics, common crash causes, and how to translate technical messages into compelling performances.


Q: Can you share some of the topics covered in your trainings?

SWRW Officer: We touched on everything from the main causes of crashes like speeding, pedestrian misjudgement, blind spots to how children often misinterpret road risks. We discussed risk factors like poor visibility, drug abuse, and lack of infrastructure. But we also gave guidance on practical things like how to craft messages, use visibility techniques in performances, and emphasize behavior change.


Q: Did any particular moment stand out during the recent workshops?

SWRW Officer: Yes, in Iganga, one of the facilitators, Mr. Lwanga, shared a moving personal story. He survived a bad motorcycle accident because he was wearing a helmet something many people still ignore. The trainers were vocal about the dangerous ways children are transported to school, especially on overloaded motorcycles. They challenged us and the Ministry to take the conversation even further.


Q: What impact do you hope this will have, not just on students, but on the wider community?

SWRW Officer: MDD festivals attract parents, teachers, district leaders—entire communities. When a child sings about crossing the road safely, or acts out the tragedy of a reckless boda ride, that message stays with people. Our hope is that these performances spark dialogue, change attitudes, and eventually save lives.


Q: How does this complement your VIA Road Safety Project in schools?

SWRW Officer: The VIA project, funded by TotalEnergies, is focused on teaching road safety in schools through trained teachers. We’ve reached over 130 schools already. MDD helps us go a step further. It turns that knowledge into culture. And because MDD happens nationwide, we now have a chance to reach schools beyond the VIA project zones, scaling our impact tremendously.


Q: What’s next for SWRW and road safety in schools?

SWRW Officer: We’re not stopping here. We plan to continue monitoring performances, gathering feedback, and pushing for even broader inclusion of road safety in co-curricular and curricular activities. Our dream is to make road safety a way of life, starting with Uganda’s youngest citizens.

From interclass showcases to national competitions, the 2025 MDD festival season promises not only artistic brilliance but also a resounding call to protect life on the road. As Uganda’s children sing and dance their way into national spotlight, they’re doing more than performing they’re advocating, educating, and possibly preventing the next tragedy.

As SWRW and the Ministry continue their partnership, one thing is clear: when children take the stage this year, their voices will carry more than melody they will carry awareness and hope.

With Primary Schools across the country participating in MDD competitions—from classroom concerts to national stages—the message of road safety will now echo through performances seen by students, parents, teachers, and local leaders alike.

Each level of the MDD festival—from inter-class performances to district and national stages—serves as a platform to inspire behavioural change and spark community-wide dialogue.

#MDDforSafety2025
#SafeWayRightWay
#RoadSafetyIsEveryone’sResponsibility