MUK can ease the Wandegeya traffic jam
Jan 05, 2004
SIR — Traffic almost comes to a standstill during the peak hours at the Wandegeya traffic lights, along Sir Apollo Kaggwa, Bombo, Hajji Musa Kasule and Makerere Hill roads.
SIR — Traffic almost comes to a standstill during the peak hours at the Wandegeya traffic lights, along Sir Apollo Kaggwa, Bombo, Hajji Musa Kasule and Makerere Hill roads.
One of the major causes of this traffic jam is the increased inflow of traffic to Makerere University, especially in the evening hours.
While it is appreciated that as one of the measures to decongest Wandegeya traffic lights, the university opens the east gate during the peak hours it must also be realised that the evening peak hour has shifted from 5:00—7:00 pm to 3:00 — 10:00 pm. Sometimes one can spend an hour hour to move from Public Service in Wandegeya to Makerere University!
Indeed it was not a surprise, when a few days ago, Dr Maggie Kigozi, the executive director of the Uganda Investment Authority was quoted as saying that investors were fleeing Uganda because of traffic jams.
I believe Makerere University can do something about it by opening the east gate from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm so that motorists to and from Makerere can use it in addition to the main gate.
This is necessary because some of the evening classes go on until 9:00 pm. Indeed, there is always traffic jam within the university extending as far as Lumumba and main Hall until around 9:30pm. It is of course understandable that the east gate is not opened due to security reasons.
However, a wrongdoer or terrorist for this matter, does not need to always sneak into the university with a vehicle. Since there is no solid fence around Makerere University, the closing of the east gate does not guarantee security as wrongdoers can sneak in from anywhere.
The other option is to employ full-time guards to man the east gate.
This shouldn’t be impossible in view of the current income from the private students’ scheme. If Makerere cannot solve this rather simple problem, is it possible for the traffic police to work hand-in-hand with the university to come up with a solution?
Charles Niwagaba
Kampala
bncharles1@yahoo.com
One of the major causes of this traffic jam is the increased inflow of traffic to Makerere University, especially in the evening hours.
While it is appreciated that as one of the measures to decongest Wandegeya traffic lights, the university opens the east gate during the peak hours it must also be realised that the evening peak hour has shifted from 5:00—7:00 pm to 3:00 — 10:00 pm. Sometimes one can spend an hour hour to move from Public Service in Wandegeya to Makerere University!
Indeed it was not a surprise, when a few days ago, Dr Maggie Kigozi, the executive director of the Uganda Investment Authority was quoted as saying that investors were fleeing Uganda because of traffic jams.
I believe Makerere University can do something about it by opening the east gate from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm so that motorists to and from Makerere can use it in addition to the main gate.
This is necessary because some of the evening classes go on until 9:00 pm. Indeed, there is always traffic jam within the university extending as far as Lumumba and main Hall until around 9:30pm. It is of course understandable that the east gate is not opened due to security reasons.
However, a wrongdoer or terrorist for this matter, does not need to always sneak into the university with a vehicle. Since there is no solid fence around Makerere University, the closing of the east gate does not guarantee security as wrongdoers can sneak in from anywhere.
The other option is to employ full-time guards to man the east gate.
This shouldn’t be impossible in view of the current income from the private students’ scheme. If Makerere cannot solve this rather simple problem, is it possible for the traffic police to work hand-in-hand with the university to come up with a solution?
Charles Niwagaba
Kampala
bncharles1@yahoo.com