Government to improve transport in Kampala

Oct 27, 2009

HAVING successfully completed the Northern Bypass, the Government, in collaboration with its stakeholders, now plans to introduce the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Kampala by 2014.

By John Nasasira

HAVING successfully completed the Northern Bypass, the Government, in collaboration with its stakeholders, now plans to introduce the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Kampala by 2014.

The Bus Rapid Transit is by far the most effective city transportation system that can tackle traffic jams, road congestion, accidents and air pollution in cities. BRT systems have successfully been implemented in cities like Bogotá in Congo; Jakarta Indonesia, and many more. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Lagos in Nigeria have also started the implementation of BRT systems.

Road transport is the dominant mode of transport in Uganda, carrying over 90% of passengers and freight traffic. The total vehicle population in Uganda is about 450,000. An estimated 50% of all the vehicles are in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.

The Kampala area is composed of Kampala City and its neighboring urban centres which include Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso, Kira and Mukono town councils. The Government is taking Kampala area as one unit in planning Uganda’s strategy for urban transport improvement.

Kampala area is about 970 square kilometres. The maximum east-west distance is about 43km, while the maximum north-south distance is about 55km. Kampala area’s current population is 2.7 million people and it is growing at a rate of 4.5 per annum, which is greater than the national average of 3.0 per annum. This is a huge challenge to the Government. The public transport services in Kampala area are provided by private operators mainly with 14-seater mini-buses commonly known as matatu or kamunye and motor cycles commonly known as boda bodas. Traffic congestion is very common and is worse during peak periods whereby travel speeds reduce to about 15km per hour and below. Road safety in the Kampala area is also a serious challenge.

The reliability of public transport modes in Kampala area is very low at present. This results from various causes which include the following; small 14- seater vehicles, unsafe infra-structure and driving leading to many traffic accidents, unauthorised parking and on-street loading and unloading, non-motorised vehicles sharing carriageway with motorised vehicles. Some ongoing measures to improve transport system in Kampala area include the following; turning of some roads in the city central business district into one-way roads.

The other step is removal of round-abouts in the city business district and turning them into signalised junctions. We have bigger buses on our roads and there is periodic maintenance and reconstruction of some roads in the city.

Another measure is road safety improvements through use of traffic Police and traffic wardens to direct movement of vehicle during peak periods is in full force. However, despite all these measures, traffic congestion and accidents have persisted. It is anticipated that the BRT system will reduce traffic congestion, reduce accidents and improve air quality and general mobility in the Kampala area.

Uganda’s BRT technical committee visited Bogota and Pereira in Colombia in September 2008 and learnt good insights on the BRT systems.

In January 2009, a grant was secured from the World Bank to finance the pre-feasibility study for the proposed BRT for Kampala area. In February 2009, a BRT sensitisation workshop for political, technical and public transport operators was carried out. More sensitisation and awareness creation workshops are planned.

The pre-feasibility study is planned for November 2009 to February 2010. Design for the priority corridor is planned for 2010-2011. Infrastructure development and purchase of buses and other traffic systems is planned for 2011-2013.

The BRT system is expected to be operational by 2014. I urge all stakeholders, namely local governments, taxi and bus operators, automobile associations, transport unions, civil society organisations and the public to embrace the coming BRT system. It will bring the much needed improvement to our city.
The writer is the Minister for Works and Transport

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