ROAD SAFETY INITIATIVE - UGANDA

 Precautions to avoid robbery:

• Keep to areas known to be low-risk

• Avoid poorly lit or isolated places at night

• Avoid going out alone

• Cary an alarm or whistle

• Cary a phone 

• A simple whistle could save you from danger by alerting people;

• Activating your alarm (if you have one)

• Calling for help on phone – even a one-word call may be enough to alert colleagues if there is no time to say more

• Shouting or screaming

• If you assess that it is safe to escape by running into a home, or by out-running your attackers, do so. 

• Cooperate calmly with them by giving them what they ask for. 

• Make no sudden movements. 

• Do not risk injury in order to protect material possessions.

As soon as the attack is over, move rapidly to a safe place and report the incident to the police.

Try to remember the details of your attackers’ appearance, to help the police to identify them. 

Vehicle hijackings may be carried out for various reasons including the following:

• To steal the car or other belongings carried in it

• To use the occupants as hostages

• To use the car for another crime,

• To cause a political effect, such as demonstrating that the local security forces do not have full control of the area

• To injure or kill the occupants.

Because of the dangers involved, it is important to avoid hijack if at all possible.  

• Setting up a roadblock or checkpoint to stop the vehicle

• Surrounding the vehicle when stopped at traffic lights or in a traffic jam

• Using another vehicle to cut in on or ram the target vehicle, to force it to stop

• Setting up a fake accident or breakdown, to induce you to stop and offer help.  The attackers, posing as casualties or bystanders, then turn on you.

Try and stay calm and do not start driving fast.  You will alert the people who are following you apart from increasing the risk of an accident.

• Change direction to see if they still follow you but NOT into a small side road or somewhere you don’t know.  Keep to busy parts of town.

• Do not drive to your home but go to a police station, petrol station, etc

• If the hijackers start closing up on you, try and keep to the centre of the road to make it harder for them to overtake and cut in front of you.  But be aware of the risk of causing a collision with oncoming traffic.

Carjacking is a violent theft of an occupied car with the aim of robbing the person, stealing the car, or both. 

Safety Advice:

• Check the back seat or hatch for intruders before getting into your car. You cauld transport your attackers to your home.

• Once inside the car, lock all doors and, if possible, leave windows up until you have reached your destination. 

• Remain alert and check that you are not being followed and that there are no suspicious vehicles and/or people following you, or loitering around your home.

• Be very careful if you witness a minor accident: it may be simulated. If you suspect something is wrong, do not get out, and open the window only slightly to speak to the other person.

• If a passing motorist indicates that you should stop, keep driving to a service station. If you decide to stop, stay in the car with the doors locked and the window partly open to speak through. Drive away if you feel threatened.

• Do not resist if you are attacked. Whatever the value of your car, it is not worth your life. 

Journalists and other people may be kidnapped for several reasons including:

• To hold for ransom

• To cause a political effect or achieve publicity

• To be used as human shields 

If kidnap occurs inform the local police and other appropriate authorities.

A kidnapped Victim can improve their own chances of survival and early release in a number of ways including: 

• Do not play hero tricks; do not talk back or act “tough”.

• Your only job is to survive and achieve your freedom.

• At the time of your seizure, do not attempt to fight back. 

• You may be blindfolded and drugged

• Be calm, quiet and cooperative.  Make no sudden movements.

• Try not to give up clothes or identification

• Try not to allow your kidnappers to exchange clothes with you: if there is a rescue attempt you could be mistaken for a kidnapper, and attacked. 

• Be certain that you can explain everything you have on your person. 

• Do not carry any items that may call into question your motives or status within the mission.

• Fear is a normal reaction.  Try to relax, pause, take a deep breath and accept the situation.  Focus your mind on pleasant scenes, memories or prayers.

• As the situation stabilises, continue to keep a low profile.

• Be cooperative without appearing either servile or antagonistic.  Follow the instructions of your captors.

• Be cautious about making suggestions to your captors, as you may be held responsible if something you suggest goes wrong

• Don’t beg or plead, and try not to cry.  It is normal to feel humiliated, but do all you can to maintain your dignity.

• Do not make threats against your captors or indicate that you would testify against them

• Avoid appearing to study your captors, although if you are able to notice unobtrusively their appearance, dress, and apparent rank structure, this may help the authorities after your release.

• Be a good listener.  Do not argue.  Be polite.

• Try to gain your captors’ respect and try to build rapport with them.  An excellent topic of discussion is family and children.

• Encourage your captors to let the authorities know your condition and whereabouts

• Take care of yourself and build a daily routine: exercise, stay tidy and clean, sleep when possible

• Eat and drink even if you are not hungry

• Politely draw attention to anything you need or want, such as food, water, medicine, use of the toilet books or writing materials

• Be patient and mentally prepared for a long captivity – perhaps months

• Stay mentally active: read, write, exercise your memory

• Do not believe everything you are told

• Do not despair.  Your survival chances increase with time. 

• Do not attempt to escape unless your are certain you will be successful

• If there is a rescue attempt by force, drop to the floor and keep your hands over your head.  Once the situation stabilises, or when the rescuers ask you to, identify yourself.

• Do not negotiate your own release for a ransom, even if your parents or friends are rich.  This would conflict with the negotiations being conducted by your parties.

• If released peacefully, this can also be a dangerous time.  Obey instructions promptly.  Make no sudden movements.  Stay alert.  Be prepared for delays and disappointments.

• Emphasise that you are neutral and not involved in their cause.