Could this be the last of traffic jams?
IN an effort to deal with the hitherto escalating problem of traffic jams in Kampala, many streets have been made one way with effect from Tuesday, June 15. Gabriel Tibayungwa, the Regional Traffic Officer, Kampala Extra talked to <b>John Kamya</b> about the new arrangements.
QUESTION: Why have you decided to make so many roads one way?
This is part of the Kampala Urban Improvement plan, where the decisions are not actually made by the police but by the traffic and civil engineers who are knowledgeable on these issues of traffic flow, although it is our job to enforce it. But as you may realise, the problem of traffic jams was becoming too much and we have always been looking for solutions. This plan has been done after a long study, in which the police also made a contribution and we think a one-way road system will help us avoid traffic conflict, which is the cause of these jams in the city.
But the traffic problem of traffic did not come yesterday. Why has it taken so long to come up with these measures?
Yes, this has been long overdue, and at one moment we demanded that Kampala City Council starts implementing some of these measures even if we did not have some of the signs, etc. In some incidences we have been doing it on our own, like on Ben Kiwanuka Street around Shoprite, and Nakivubo Place, at some moments we would force some vehicles to go the other side of Entebbe Road and Sikh Street, making it a one way.
Which roads were made one-way?
The main ones were Nakivubo Place, taking the taxis, which would pass the Nakivubo Channel, join Ben Kiwanuka before entering the park. This road pairs with Ben Kiwanuka Street, which is now a one way from Mini-price Bata towards Shoprite. The other one is Allen Road, towards Kyaggwe Road and Nakivubo Road. This one is one way towards Namirembe Road. Those ones are pairing. Wherever you have a one way, you must have a pairing road, which is supposed to return people to the places they want to go. Others are Nakivubo Mews, Channel Street and Nakivubo Green, Snay Bin Amir Street/Market Square; Dustar Street, Luwum Street, Market Street and Johnson Street.
Some people have complained that the making of some roads one-way have created more traffic jams instead.
In the short run, before people get to know what they are supposed to do, there will be some problems, but we believe that within the next two to three days, the flow will be smooth. Some of the places were blocked before people were made aware. Take an example of a place like Station Road, if you came from that road and you were heading to Kibuli, you would have to first go to the Jinja Road roundabout and you would feel terribly inconvenienced. But after knowing that it is blocked, motorists from the city centre going to Kibuli will have to go straight via the main Jinja Road and the flow will be fine.
How have drivers responded to these changes?
We are happy people are responding well to our signals. This is probably because there was publicity; people got to know what was going on and the directions they were supposed to take. Our police officers are there advising people on the right directions. In the meantime they are not arresting those taking wrong directions.
What happens to those who refuse to comply?
Unless somebody becomes terribly undisciplined and does not follow our advice, we don’t intend to prosecute anybody. This is still a learning process, which will continue for about two weeks.
Do you think you have done enough sensitisation to prepare motorists for these changes?
We have been doing it. We have had meetings with some people such as UTODA officials. You know, although some people think taxi drivers are the most undisciplined, they learn so quickly because they use these roads more often than other motorists.
Now that many roads are one way, should we say goodbye to the problem of traffic jams?
Of course, the problem is a major one and it will take time to be solved. As for now, in the short run, we believe the one-way measure will ease the problem. But there are some areas that need to be addressed. For example, some streets are still narrow and some of the works such as the introduction of traffic lights at some points is still going on.
I think when all this is complete, we shall the situation will improve. There are some areas that are supposed be degazetted for parking and when this is done, the traffic flow will be better traffic.
But some people say that the problem of traffic jam is not caused by the narrow roads, two-way roads or the many vehicles but by the indiscipline of drivers.
It’s both. We have the engineering question such as the design of the roads as a contributory factor but I agree that discipline is the greatest problem that needs to be addressed. We think now that the minister of Works, Housing and Communication has put regulations in place to make the implementation of the Traffic and Road Safety Act easy, we shall handle undisciplined drivers more firmly. This will also improve the situation.
Which role do other stakeholders have to play in these new changes?
It is a combined effort. Now that KCC has put an arrangement in place, roads are made one way, the traffic signs have been put in place after a long time, we expect their (KCC) traffic wardens to come in and help as provided by the law. Right now we have volunteer UTODA traffic wardens who are doing a good job.
Is this all there is in fixing the traffic problems?
This is just a short-term improvement plan. There is a longer-term transport master plan, which is supposed to improve the whole situation. In the master plan we are supposed to look at which vehicles should access the city, what type of public transport should be used, for example the introduction of big buses, and smaller vehicles being given particular areas (stages) outside the central business district and the Northern Bypass which is under construction. We hope the situation will improve when all this comes in place.
Some people have argued that the only solution to this problem is the construction of flyovers and underground tunnels. Should we expect to see these soon?
Of course, it would be a solution if we started using the underground tunnels and flyovers. But these are very expensive engineering questions, which should be answered by other people. But I’m aware that in the Northern Bypass we shall have some flyovers.
So do we hope to review this one-way plan in case it does not work?
This one must work. Actually in other cities where you find one-ways, they put barriers in between such that vehicles from one direction will never have access to the opposite direction. Otherwise, why should we even be registering head-on collusions, that’s something which should have been forgotten.
What is your message to motorists in this exercise?
Let them respect the changes as well as every one who is directing the traffic. It does not matter whether it is a police officer, a traffic warden or a member of the public. What we are all interested in is a smooth flow of traffic.
This is part of the Kampala Urban Improvement plan, where the decisions are not actually made by the police but by the traffic and civil engineers who are knowledgeable on these issues of traffic flow, although it is our job to enforce it. But as you may realise, the problem of traffic jams was becoming too much and we have always been looking for solutions. This plan has been done after a long study, in which the police also made a contribution and we think a one-way road system will help us avoid traffic conflict, which is the cause of these jams in the city.
But the traffic problem of traffic did not come yesterday. Why has it taken so long to come up with these measures?
Yes, this has been long overdue, and at one moment we demanded that Kampala City Council starts implementing some of these measures even if we did not have some of the signs, etc. In some incidences we have been doing it on our own, like on Ben Kiwanuka Street around Shoprite, and Nakivubo Place, at some moments we would force some vehicles to go the other side of Entebbe Road and Sikh Street, making it a one way.
Which roads were made one-way?
The main ones were Nakivubo Place, taking the taxis, which would pass the Nakivubo Channel, join Ben Kiwanuka before entering the park. This road pairs with Ben Kiwanuka Street, which is now a one way from Mini-price Bata towards Shoprite. The other one is Allen Road, towards Kyaggwe Road and Nakivubo Road. This one is one way towards Namirembe Road. Those ones are pairing. Wherever you have a one way, you must have a pairing road, which is supposed to return people to the places they want to go. Others are Nakivubo Mews, Channel Street and Nakivubo Green, Snay Bin Amir Street/Market Square; Dustar Street, Luwum Street, Market Street and Johnson Street.
Some people have complained that the making of some roads one-way have created more traffic jams instead.
In the short run, before people get to know what they are supposed to do, there will be some problems, but we believe that within the next two to three days, the flow will be smooth. Some of the places were blocked before people were made aware. Take an example of a place like Station Road, if you came from that road and you were heading to Kibuli, you would have to first go to the Jinja Road roundabout and you would feel terribly inconvenienced. But after knowing that it is blocked, motorists from the city centre going to Kibuli will have to go straight via the main Jinja Road and the flow will be fine.
How have drivers responded to these changes?
We are happy people are responding well to our signals. This is probably because there was publicity; people got to know what was going on and the directions they were supposed to take. Our police officers are there advising people on the right directions. In the meantime they are not arresting those taking wrong directions.
What happens to those who refuse to comply?
Unless somebody becomes terribly undisciplined and does not follow our advice, we don’t intend to prosecute anybody. This is still a learning process, which will continue for about two weeks.
Do you think you have done enough sensitisation to prepare motorists for these changes?
We have been doing it. We have had meetings with some people such as UTODA officials. You know, although some people think taxi drivers are the most undisciplined, they learn so quickly because they use these roads more often than other motorists.
Now that many roads are one way, should we say goodbye to the problem of traffic jams?
Of course, the problem is a major one and it will take time to be solved. As for now, in the short run, we believe the one-way measure will ease the problem. But there are some areas that need to be addressed. For example, some streets are still narrow and some of the works such as the introduction of traffic lights at some points is still going on.
I think when all this is complete, we shall the situation will improve. There are some areas that are supposed be degazetted for parking and when this is done, the traffic flow will be better traffic.
But some people say that the problem of traffic jam is not caused by the narrow roads, two-way roads or the many vehicles but by the indiscipline of drivers.
It’s both. We have the engineering question such as the design of the roads as a contributory factor but I agree that discipline is the greatest problem that needs to be addressed. We think now that the minister of Works, Housing and Communication has put regulations in place to make the implementation of the Traffic and Road Safety Act easy, we shall handle undisciplined drivers more firmly. This will also improve the situation.
Which role do other stakeholders have to play in these new changes?
It is a combined effort. Now that KCC has put an arrangement in place, roads are made one way, the traffic signs have been put in place after a long time, we expect their (KCC) traffic wardens to come in and help as provided by the law. Right now we have volunteer UTODA traffic wardens who are doing a good job.
Is this all there is in fixing the traffic problems?
This is just a short-term improvement plan. There is a longer-term transport master plan, which is supposed to improve the whole situation. In the master plan we are supposed to look at which vehicles should access the city, what type of public transport should be used, for example the introduction of big buses, and smaller vehicles being given particular areas (stages) outside the central business district and the Northern Bypass which is under construction. We hope the situation will improve when all this comes in place.
Some people have argued that the only solution to this problem is the construction of flyovers and underground tunnels. Should we expect to see these soon?
Of course, it would be a solution if we started using the underground tunnels and flyovers. But these are very expensive engineering questions, which should be answered by other people. But I’m aware that in the Northern Bypass we shall have some flyovers.
So do we hope to review this one-way plan in case it does not work?
This one must work. Actually in other cities where you find one-ways, they put barriers in between such that vehicles from one direction will never have access to the opposite direction. Otherwise, why should we even be registering head-on collusions, that’s something which should have been forgotten.
What is your message to motorists in this exercise?
Let them respect the changes as well as every one who is directing the traffic. It does not matter whether it is a police officer, a traffic warden or a member of the public. What we are all interested in is a smooth flow of traffic.