Kampala, Uganda: Monday 13 November 2023:  Vivo Energy Uganda, the company that distributes and markets Shell-branded fuels and lubricants, has won the 2023 Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) Excellence award for Best CSR and Sustainability campaign for its ‘HeadsUp’ child safety helmet campaign.

The campaign highlights the plight of children using public motorcycle transportation, commonly referred to as ‘boda-bodas', for their daily commute to school without the appropriate safety helmets. The company imports helmets that it donates freely to students in need, to promote child safety.

The PRAU Excellence Awards celebrate the greatest achievements, innovations, and initiatives that have demonstrated excellence and effectiveness across the public relations and communications industry in Uganda.

The event was officiated by Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the East African Community and held on the sidelines of East African Public Relations Week, themed “Advancing PR Excellence for East African Unity,” which underscored strengthening integration in the region through the power of communication.

Mr. Valery Okecho, the Corporate Communications Manager at Vivo Energy Uganda, expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, "We are honoured to receive the PRAU Excellence Award for Best CSR and Sustainability Campaign. The 'HeadsUp' initiative reflects our commitment to making a positive impact on the communities where we operate. Ensuring the safety of schoolchildren on the roads is a cause close to our hearts, and this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team."

Vivo Energy Uganda's 'HeadsUp' initiative aligns with the company's broader corporate social responsibility strategy and is in line with the ideals of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, which aims to halve the number of traffic injuries and deaths by 2030. The road safety campaign has positively impacted thousands of students, teachers, and parents, contributing to creating safer road environments for all.

During the relaunch event of the campaign in July 2023, the Guest of Honour, State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, commended the ‘HeadsUp!’ initiative by Vivo Energy Uganda for highlighting this important aspect of road safety for schoolchildren.

"The ‘HeadsUp!’ campaign is a significant step towards ensuring the safety of our children on boda-bodas. We appreciate Vivo Energy's efforts in raising awareness and encouraging responsible road habits among boda-boda riders and the public," said Hon. Dr. Kaducu.

"The risks that we expose our children to while they journey to school every day should be addressed by all if we are to ensure full attendance at government programmes such as Universal Primary Education. This in turn will support the government’s efforts to scale up the levels of literacy across the nation," she added.

Road Safety is a key focus area for Vivo Energy Uganda, which, on average, operates 300 trucks transporting fuel products every day. The initiatives seek to complement the efforts of key players such as the Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda Police, and others in a bid to improve current road safety statistics.

The PRAU Excellence Award for Best CSR and Sustainability Campaign adds to Vivo Energy Uganda's list of accolades, for the same campaign including the 2020 Vivo Award for Best Reputation Builders, highlighting the company's continuous efforts to integrate social responsibility into its business practices.

ENDS

Media Contact:

Valery Okecho
Corporate Communications Manager, Vivo Energy Uganda
Mobile: +256 776 754322
Email: [email protected]

Notes to editors:

Vivo Energy operates and markets its products in countries across North, West, East and Southern Africa. The Group has a network of over 2,600 service stations in 23 countries operating under the Shell and Engen brands and exports lubricants to a number of other African countries. Its retail offering includes fuels, lubricants, card services, shops, restaurants and other non-fuel services. It provides fuels, lubricants, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and solar energy solutions to business customers across a range of sectors including marine, mining, construction, power, transport, wholesalers and manufacturing. The Company employs around 2,800 people, has access to over 1,000,000 cubic metres of fuel storage capacity and has a joint-venture, Shell and Vivo Lubricants B.V., that sources, blends, packages and supplies Shell-branded lubricants. For more information about Vivo Energy, please visit www.vivoenergy.com