Motorists left frustrated by Kampala traffic
Nov 14, 2023
Denis Mugyerwa, a taxi driver from Bugolobi, decried the blocking of many roads at once.
Mukwano road jam that was making it difficult for motorists and drivers trying to dodge congestion in the city (Photos by Isaac Nuwagaba)
Isaac Nuwagaba
Journalist @New Vision
________________________________ Imathia Construction Company Ltd that led to the blocking of Port Bell road leading to Bugolobi
Motorists were forced to endure long jams after traffic flow was paralysed on different roads in Kampala as works on several key roads continued.
As a result of such developments, Port Bell Road which connects to Bugolobi from the Industrial Area was closed, disrupting traffic flow in Nakawa, Luzira, a situation expected to continue through much of the week.
The government released sh60b for city roads as the country prepares to host delegations from the 120-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and G77 conferences at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo in Kampala early next year.
Denis Mugyerwa, a taxi driver from Bugolobi, decried the blocking of many roads at once.
“The problem is that they blocked whole roads where the railway crosses without considering one side of the roads in areas near to the railway crossings,” he said.
“Now we are making losses because passengers run away from us and consider boda-boda riders who are quick and fast,” he added.
Port Bell Road
At railway crossings along Port Bell Road, teams were engaged in laying railway sleepers heading to the main Kampala station.
James Kintu, a boda boda rider on Mukwano Road, said the congestion in the morning was caused by works that blocked roads leading to Industrial Area where construction has taken a few weeks. 
“When there is too much jam, we use a lot of fuel, and much of our time is spent on dodging both pedestrians and cars which sometimes make us cause accidents,” he said.
Kintu suggested that road works be done at night.
“I am suggesting that these contractors should design their program of working during the night to save us from wasting too much time in jam which is costly for us,” he said.
In 2020, Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) signed a contract with Imathia Construction to rehabilitate the Kampala–Mukono railway line.
Physical works commenced in April 2023 with the removal of the old steel sleeper line from Kampala Mukono. The project will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase from Kampala–Namanve and the second from Namanve to Mukono.
The project will achieve a more stable track that supports increased train operating speeds, passenger comfort, and efficient and effective freight and passenger transportation services offered by URC.
Access and Mukwano roads
Access Road had heavy traffic jams all the way from the Jinja Road traffic lights for more than three hours.
Deus Omonot, a motorcycle rider asked the government to create temporary roads in areas that are under construction to reduce the traffic jam when roads are completely closed.
Mukwano Road was muddy.
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