-------------

Prior to Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3, 2023, (Saturday), the Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory for all those planning to attend service.

All roads surrounding Namugongo will be closed from 3:00am to 4:00pm on the same day, according to Rogers Nsereko, the commandant of traffic for Kampala Metropolitan Police.

He stated that there will be no disruptions to the Kampala-Jinja Highway’s regular operations.

Nsereko said on Monday, May 29, 2023, that only vehicles with stickers going to Kyaliwajala for Martyrs' Day celebrations will be allowed on the road from Kireka to Kyaliwajala.

He was addressing journalists during the weekly joint security briefing at the Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala.

He said the Kyaliwajala-Naalya road will also be one way to the Northern Bypass.

“We won't permit vehicles to travel from Naalya to the side of Namugongo. All roads feeding Kyaliwajala-Naalya road will be used to travel to the Northern Bypass, but not the other way around,” Nsereko added.

The only vehicles allowed on the path from Kyaliwajala to the Catholic Shrine and the Anglican Church in Nakiyanja will be for Very Important Persons (VIPs) or medical vehicles/ambulances.

According to Nsereko, drivers with red stickers should use Ssemambo Road to enter Uganda Martyrs Secondary School and reach the playground at Namugongo Girls Primary School, following the traffic Police’s instructions.

Given the small location and low capacity, dignitaries arriving at the Anglican Shrine with VIP stickers will be guided appropriately.

All out-of-country visitors bearing blue stickers will be dropped at Kyalijala junction and instructed to walk to the shrine; while their cars will be parked at Vienna College.

To avoid any inconvenience from security officers, green stickers will be displayed on the windscreen of all medical vehicles and ambulances.

“Purple tags must be worn by anyone supplying anything to the Catholic Shrine and entry will be prohibited after June 3, 2023, at midnight,” Nsereko said.

He added that all pilgrims travelling to the Mamre Prayer Centre must utilise the Bweyogere-Buto road or the eastern route through Sonde (on the side of the Jinja road).

“They'll park according to the traffic cops' instructions. To reduce inconvenience, all stickers must be placed in a prominent location,” he added.

The primary celebrants from the Jinja Diocese will be parking at the volleyball court at Uganda Martyrs Secondary School and will be identified by white tags.

While those from Ntinda-Kiwatule, Najjera, and Kasangati have been encouraged to go through Kira Town Council and park at Kira Playground or the Municipal Council, pilgrims utilising the Northern Bypass will park at Hillside Nursery and Primary School.

The Naalya roundabout will be closed off and there will be a checkpoint at the Kireka trading centre to confirm the drivers.

Namugongo Buto, Kyobe Road, Bweyogere town, Agenda 2000, and Namugongo Semambo Road will also be limited to only those with stickers.

Nsereko said without stickers, no motorcyclists or vehicles will be permitted to utilise any of the cut-off routes.

He added that no taxi stages will be permitted to operate in the Kyaliwajala, Sonde, or other nearby Namugongo localities.

“Taxis found on those stages will be taken into custody and charged under the Express Penalty Scheme. The specified parking spaces must be used to store all cars. Anyone caught parking anywhere would have their vehicle towed to the police,” he added.