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Alternative transport systems will ease traffic challenges
Railway transport and electric buses offer Uganda cleaner, more affordable and reliable mobility while easing traffic congestion and reducing pressure on the country’s roads, writes Kirabo Margaret Nakibuule
Kirabo Margaret Nakibuule. (Courtesy)
By: Admin ., Journalist @New Vision
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OPINION
By Ms Kirabo Margaret Nakibuule
Uganda’s transport system is largely dominated by road-based mobility, with taxis, boda bodas, and private vehicles serving as the backbone of urban transportation.
In metropolitan centres such as Kampala, traffic congestion has become a structural challenge, resulting in traffic jams, commuter fatigue, delays, and reduced productivity. These challenges are largely driven by rapid urbanisation, inadequate road infrastructure, and the absence of efficient and integrated transport networks.
Recognising these challenges, the government has prioritised alternative transport systems, including electric buses (E-buses) and railway transport, to help reduce pressure on the country’s overloaded roads. These initiatives are intended to provide commuters with affordable, efficient, and more sustainable alternatives to conventional road transport.
The introduction of electric buses, including E-Bus Express, represents an important step towards transforming Uganda’s urban transport system. Operating on selected routes, these buses provide affordable fares that can be paid through mobile money platforms such as MTN and Airtel. This makes the service accessible and convenient to a broad range of commuters.
In metropolitan centres such as Kampala, traffic congestion has become a structural challenge, resulting in traffic jams, commuter fatigue, delays, and reduced productivity. These challenges are largely driven by rapid urbanisation, inadequate road infrastructure, and the absence of efficient and integrated transport networks.
Recognising these challenges, the government has prioritised alternative transport systems, including electric buses (E-buses) and railway transport, to help reduce pressure on the country’s overloaded roads. These initiatives are intended to provide commuters with affordable, efficient, and more sustainable alternatives to conventional road transport.
The introduction of electric buses, including E-Bus Express, represents an important step towards transforming Uganda’s urban transport system. Operating on selected routes, these buses provide affordable fares that can be paid through mobile money platforms such as MTN and Airtel. This makes the service accessible and convenient to a broad range of commuters.
Similarly, Uganda Railways Corporation provides an affordable passenger transport service between Kampala and Mukono. Railway transport offers commuters an alternative means of travelling while helping to reduce the number of vehicles on congested roads. It can also provide smoother and more affordable journeys, making it a viable option for budget-conscious travellers.
Although the adoption of railway transport and electric buses is still relatively limited, these modern forms of public transportation offer numerous benefits. They can contribute to reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy efficiency, reduced traffic congestion, and more affordable and reliable mobility. In addition, they have the capacity to transport large numbers of people efficiently, thereby reducing pressure on the road network.
We therefore encourage more people to embrace railway transport and electric buses as cleaner, safer, and more sustainable transport options. Increased use of these alternative transport systems can help ease traffic congestion, improve mobility, reduce environmental pollution, and contribute to healthier communities and a more sustainable future for Uganda.
The writer is a strategist and an MBA finalist student at MUBS
Although the adoption of railway transport and electric buses is still relatively limited, these modern forms of public transportation offer numerous benefits. They can contribute to reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy efficiency, reduced traffic congestion, and more affordable and reliable mobility. In addition, they have the capacity to transport large numbers of people efficiently, thereby reducing pressure on the road network.
We therefore encourage more people to embrace railway transport and electric buses as cleaner, safer, and more sustainable transport options. Increased use of these alternative transport systems can help ease traffic congestion, improve mobility, reduce environmental pollution, and contribute to healthier communities and a more sustainable future for Uganda.
The writer is a strategist and an MBA finalist student at MUBS