KCCA to install modern traffic signals

By Brian Mayanja

KAMPALA - To improve traffic flow in the city, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is upgrading the traffic signal-controlled junctions of Nakawa, Wandegeya and Nateete.

The installation of upgraded traffic signals has began and KCCA expects to complete it within two weeks.

Peter Kaujju, the authority’s spokersperson, in a statement issued by KCCA, said the junction improvement/upgrade process is intended to provide modern traffic control equipment which will ensure safety of pedestrians as they cross the road.

As KCCA is upgrading the traffic signal controlled junctions, it is also removing the old traffic lights.

A source in the KCCA executive director’s office said they are planning to install modern traffic signals at 31 junctions.

“We have started with four roads because they do not need rehabilitation. The Fairway junction is part of them. Before, we install the traffic signals on others roads, we shall have to first renovate them,” the source explained.

The authority says the new equipment will provide enough time for the vehicle movements.

 “Vehicles coming to the city centre will get more time in the morning and those leaving the city in the evening will get more time through the junctions. This will help reduce traffic jams,” Kaujju added.
 

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Workers removing an old concrete block that contains cables to replace it with a new one during the upgrading project in Wandegeya. (Credit: Ronnie Kijjambu)

Part of the money from the World Bank is used to run the project. Recently, World Bank injected $175m in the second Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project, (KIIDPII).

KIIDPII, the five-year World Bank project, aims at improving urban mobility for inclusive economic growth, by supporting activities aimed at improving the provision of critical services to the city in the five priority areas, which were critical for public confidence.

The project it contributes to the economic and commercial development of the city, including drainage system improvement, traffic management, road maintenance and upgrading and solid waste management.

KCCA, in partnership with the Uganda Police are directly managing traffic by use of traffic wardens at these junctions during this upgrade phase.

“Once KCCA installs modernised traffic signal controlled junctions, Government shall stop deploying Policemen at theses junctions,” a source said.

Kaujju said, it was important that both vehicular traffic and pedestrians cross the affected junctions with extreme caution.

“When completed, these junctions will be safer for all road users .We ask you to bear with this short-lived inconvenience as we continue to transform the city.”



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