KAMPALA,Uganda: The Haulage Corridor East Africa Professional Drivers Association (HCEAPDA), a body that unites truckers along the East African corridor highway, has announced plans to hold a week-long free medical camp in the Nakawa and Kawempe divisions of Kampala city between Monday 26 to Friday 29th January 2026.
The announcement was made by the Association’s chairman, Muhwezi Stephen, during an exclusive interview with this website at their headquarters in Natete Truck Park.
Muhwezi revealed that the medical camp will be hosted at truck parking yards in the two divisions, targeting a wide range of stakeholders within the trucking industry. These include long-distance drivers, turn men, mechanics, cargo loaders, sex workers, food and beverage vendors, and bar and lodge owners, among others.
The camp aims to provide free medical services to all those who attend, with the goal of addressing the unique economic and social challenges faced by those working in the haulage sector. Truck drivers, in particular, are at higher risk of contracting infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, due to the nature of their trade and constant mobility.
Muhwezi commended the Ministry of Health for supporting the initiative by providing medical teams, supplies, and equipment. Kiswa Health Centre will cover Nakawa, while Kawempe Health Centre will handle Kawempe Division.
He encouraged all stakeholders to participate in the camp, emphasizing that regular health checks are vital for maintaining a healthy workforce. “A healthy mind works best in a healthy body,” Muhwezi remarked, adding that long hours of driving and fatigue often put truckers at risk of health complications.
Additionally, Muhwezi expressed gratitude to the Uganda Professional Drivers Network (UPDN) for their recent donation of medical equipment, including hospital beds, pharmaceuticals, and digital medical tools. These items will be used at the newly established wellness health center at Natete Truck Park Yard.
He thanked UPDN Director Omongo Ndugu for the timely contribution, noting that the donated items would help address the health challenges faced by truck drivers as they transport cargo throughout the East African Community.
The wellness center will serve as a one-stop facility for routine medical checkups for drivers and other members who experience health issues while hauling goods across the region, from the Coast of Mombasa through Uganda to Sudan, DR Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.
In closing, Muhwezi congratulated President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on his re-election for another term, expressing appreciation for the strong relationship the trucking industry enjoys with government stakeholders, including the Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), and others.
He pledged to continue fostering close ties between truckers and key stakeholders, with the goal of advancing the sector, which is integral to the region’s transportation infrastructure.
