Is the Northern Bypass a garbage graveyard?

The Northern Bypass in Uganda was originally created to significantly reduce traffic congestion in Kampala’s city centre by allowing cross-country traffic to circumvent the downtown area — essentially acting as a ring road around the capital’s northern suburbs.

The vision behind this grand development was to enhance accessibility and ease traffic flow, a promise that remains impressive on paper.

However, road users said the current state of the bypass raises many concerns and prompts one to wonder whether Ugandans truly value the maintenance of public assets.

Once celebrated as a transport marvel, the Northern Bypass has sadly become synonymous with litter, garbage, public urination and faeces.

Namboole, Agenda, Naalya

We began our journey at the Namboole flyover. The upper section appeared relatively clean, and while the lower section was mostly tidy, occasional sprinkles of litter were evident.

Next, we proceeded to the Agenda–Naalya stretch, where the flyover connecting Kireka to Namugongo is located. Although this area was generally clean, the adjacent trenches were heavily littered with refuse, including discarded debris that, when combined with rainfall, could easily overwhelm the drainage system.

Passengers said this neglect will, in the long run, lead to clogged drains and flooding.

Furthermore, alongside the flyover, heaps of rubbish — predominantly plastic bags, were strewn along the edge of the main road below, creating an unsightly spectacle for a major urban thoroughfare.

Just five minutes away from the Agenda-stage Bridge is the pedestrian flyover connecting commuters from Kireka to Naalya. Here, too, the scene was disheartening: heaps of plastic bags lined the trenches, clearly not attended to. This problem is compounded by the proximity of residential houses; garbage that might otherwise be disposed of in designated collection points ends up on the roadside instead.

The Naalya flyover itself was noticeably cleaner, likely due to the affluence and vigilance of the predominantly middle-class residents in the area.

Kiwatule-Ntinda flyover

However, immediately beyond Naalya, we reached the Kiwatule– Ntinda connecting flyover, where the stark contrast could not be ignored. While the road above the bridge is well maintained, beneath it lay filth beyond imagination.

As I attempted to secure the best shot of this flyover, I found myself suddenly confronted by a pungent mixture of faeces and urine emanating from below. The faecal matter appeared to have been deposited only a few days earlier, and walls bore persistent urine stains alongside a small rubbish depository.

Adjacent to the flyover’s tail end, local businesspeople were selling food and running small shops. Intrigued, I asked Joyce Kisakye, a snack vendor, about who she believed was responsible for soiling the area.

Kisakye attributed the problem to night-shift workers and intoxicated individuals, adding that many people choose to relieve themselves by the roadside during the night due to the absence of public toilets.

“If you look around, there is no designated public toilet here; even when individual business owners have toilets, they do not allow public access. That is why people end up urinating under the flyover,” she said.

Kisaasi, Bukoto, Kalerwe stretch

In contrast, the Kisaasi flyover was relatively neat, likely because it is located in an area with fewer residences and an open design that discourages littering, public urination, and related acts. Similarly, the flyover connecting Bukoto to Kabira Country Club was also relatively clean, even though road works were on-going.

However, as one approaches Kalerwe — near the intersection leading into Bukoto, waste dumped between the road rails becomes evident. These dumping sites, though far from residential areas, seem to be the chosen disposal points for some residents determined to shirk their civic responsibilities.

Further along, a pedestrian walkway connecting commuters between Kamwokya and Kyebando has turned into a dumping site. Every corner of the path was cluttered with heaps of rubbish, stuffed into blue and black plastic bags, yet pedestrians passed by as if unperturbed.

Florence Nakate, a local leader in the area, noted that although there is a garbage truck designated to pick the garbage, many people deliberately avoid paying for a proper garbage collection service — even though such a service is infrequently needed because of the always-present free truck.

“We have attempted to clean the bypass on several occasions, but if we clear it early in the morning, it is filthy by the evening, people are simply too stubborn,” she said.

Robert Asiimwe, also known as Manansa, echoed these sentiments, detailing how businesswomen illegally dispose of rubbish between 4:00pm and 5:00am, leaving debris scattered at every corner of the bypass.

Similarly, Dorcus Agaba, a market operator in Kamwokya, alleged that despite repeated efforts to tidy the pedestrian flyover, garbage continuously appears from the Kyebando side.

“The flyover gets dark and there are no security lights, so people take advantage of the darkness to dump garbage, most especially in the early hours of the morning,” Agaba said.

Shortly after the pedestrian flyover that connects Kyebando, there is another that links Kyebando to Mulago, which was relatively clean. The newly constructed flyover that runs through Kalerwe and connects to Matuga, Namungona, and Bwaise – intersecting between Kampala, Mpererewe, and Kasangati – was also relatively clean.

However, an inevitable stench hangs over these areas, despite their proximity to Kalerwe Market. The source of the odour, vendors said, is the clogged drainage system, which has long puzzled the authorities.

When I arrived, a tractor was attempting to unclog the drainage, but it showed no signs of success.

These areas, as well as the stretch near the Bwaise–Makerere Kikoni bypass opposite Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga’s church, pose a significant threat both to the architectural integrity of the bypass and to the health of the local residents. Directly opposite the Bwaise bypass, an enlarged drainage system is filled with plastic bottles.

Busega flyover

The Busega flyover, often regarded as the gateway into Kampala, is similarly disappointing. While the bypass itself is relatively clean, the surrounding grass is poorly maintained and the drainage system remains littered. This neglect is largely due to Ugandans who have taken to lounging under the flyover. These pedestrians discard plastic water bottles at will.

Local leaders said maintaining the aesthetic appeal of a bypass road requires regular cleaning, road surface maintenance, proper lighting, and most importantly, community involvement to foster a sense of ownership.

UNRA to blame

According to Jamil Kabugo, a supervisor at Seven Hill Cleaners, during Dorothy Kisaka’s tenure as executive director of KCCA, an agreement had been inked for the company to clean the Northern Bypass.

However, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), took over the road maintenance and cleaning.

UNRA has since been swallowed by the works and transport ministry.

NuweAbine Daniel, the acting spokesperson of KCCA, said: “The bypass is now under the Ministry of Works, as far as the cleaning is concerned. We may only come in to rescue a tough situation, say when extra effort is required like when we have visiting dignitaries.”

Julius Mutebi, the mayor of Kira Municipality, said: “As leaders, we have failed.

The central government has also failed — ever since the breakdown of Kitezi, they have not secured a proper dumping site. We, as local governments, are struggling. We have nowhere to dispose of garbage. We do not even have the necessary machinery.