Friday saw the worst traffic jam on Entebbe Road
Apr 25, 2011
EDITOR: Good Friday marked the worst and most terrifying traffic jam on Entebbe highway in years.
EDITOR: Good Friday marked the worst and most terrifying traffic jam on Entebbe highway in years.
The jam started as early as 7:00am and persisted throughout the day. The problem was attributed to the heavy downpour in the night. Three lines of vehicles on both sides of the road stretched from Kampala to Entebbe and vice versa! Pedestrians and students leaving school for holidays worsened the situation.
Traffic Police officers tried their best to contain the situation but it was impossible! Many travellers failed to reach their destinations and many missed their flights. Workers could not report on duty in time and many vehicles ran out of fuel.
Sick people could not access health centres or any medical facilities. Some able-bodied youth made money from carrying students' luggage and meandering through the thick wall of vehicles. It must have been very frustrating to tourists and a great embarrassment to the country.
We owe foreigners an apology. Although the rain could not have been prevented, better planning could have considerably mitigated the problem. For example, schools along the highway and in the neighbourhood should not have broken off for holidays on such a day well aware that there was a Christian ritual, the 'Way of the Cross', taking place along the same road. I suggest the following in future:
Schools along Entebbe highway should organise buses for students and transport them to the city centre where they can be collected by their parents;
These schools should cooperate and break off on separate days;
Traffic Police and parents should liaise and create different lines for ordinary road users and parents going to collect their children.
Motorists should be more patient and organised in such situations.
Herman Mugisha
Kampala
The jam started as early as 7:00am and persisted throughout the day. The problem was attributed to the heavy downpour in the night. Three lines of vehicles on both sides of the road stretched from Kampala to Entebbe and vice versa! Pedestrians and students leaving school for holidays worsened the situation.
Traffic Police officers tried their best to contain the situation but it was impossible! Many travellers failed to reach their destinations and many missed their flights. Workers could not report on duty in time and many vehicles ran out of fuel.
Sick people could not access health centres or any medical facilities. Some able-bodied youth made money from carrying students' luggage and meandering through the thick wall of vehicles. It must have been very frustrating to tourists and a great embarrassment to the country.
We owe foreigners an apology. Although the rain could not have been prevented, better planning could have considerably mitigated the problem. For example, schools along the highway and in the neighbourhood should not have broken off for holidays on such a day well aware that there was a Christian ritual, the 'Way of the Cross', taking place along the same road. I suggest the following in future:
Schools along Entebbe highway should organise buses for students and transport them to the city centre where they can be collected by their parents;
These schools should cooperate and break off on separate days;
Traffic Police and parents should liaise and create different lines for ordinary road users and parents going to collect their children.
Motorists should be more patient and organised in such situations.
Herman Mugisha
Kampala