Kampala Traffic Frustration: 'Sort out public transport'

The idea by Kampala City Council Authority to introduce a fee for private vehicles that come into the city has been one of the most controversial traffic stories lately. Different strands of the argument have been raised.

According to the Authority, the levy will hopefully reduce city traffic on the one hand and boost KCCA revenues on the other. In the court of the public, however, things are not as clear cut as the city authority is putting them and as the variation in public views indicates, the issue remains hugely divisive. What then could be done to improve things?

Some people have said that it is counterproductive for KCCA to think about deterring private cars from coming into the city without fixing the poor transport system.  Instead, they advocate a more holistic approach.

John Bosco Katungye, for instance, says: "KCCA needs to improve the transport system, that is using buses instead of having private vehicles in the city centre. However, they need to be so efficient regarding time management as some of us wake up so early to go and work. They should also improve security in places where we stay so that we can ably walk without meeting kifeesi guys.

I will leave my car at home and use public means but before that is done, let them not start adding other taxes. We have more than enough."

Others feel that the tax has been long overdue. Indeed, they encourage their enforcement. However, some, such as Jimmy Oscass Ruva call for a realistic charge. "I believe it is long over-due.

I am hearing that they will charge only UGX 10,000, This is really unrealistic, the charge should not be less than 100,000 UGX per day, paid at the beginning of the month. That will enable me also to walk with peace on Kampala Roads. Secondly, bodaboda can as well pay UGX 25,000 per day, so that we as pedestrians also have a chance to cross the road. Good move by KCCA."

Clearly the public has different ideas from KCCA seeing as they propose far different, even more, radical views. "It (levying a fee from private cars coming into the city) is not a good idea as it will not be a deterrent for people.

The only way to go is to remove the taxi park from the middle of town to the edge from where the circular routes buses ply every two minutes on the road. Taxis and the street parking are the only problems," a one Mashuru said.

Despite the flavour in opinions, there seems to be a consensus among many members of the public that fixing roads and sorting our messed-up transport system first will go a long way in putting Kampala's traffic issues on the right path.

From car-pooling to flexi-hours in workplaces, here are some more of your suggestions:
Granite Hk People can't fail to pay such a fee (congestion tax) when they can afford to buy a car of over 600m. The only solution is widening roads in Kampala and creating more flyovers.

@jberonda  It's time we changed our behaviour. Driving two cars at peak hours from the same home and working culture. Institutions are investing too much in IT infrastructure, what if we slowly introduced flex working times at our workplaces?. It's no longer an option. I think some schools too should be encouraged to move out of the city. However, bad driving is another major cause. It's time to use technology to punish bad drivers.

Francis Simbwa Make Entebbe administrative capital and shift govt ministries there. Promote Jinja as an industrial zone. Single and restricted lanes and train and bus service in Kampala. Taxis out of CBD.

@dpmirembe One way of reducing traffic is to restructure the city through approval of building plans and business licensing. Government departments and agencies should be encouraged to relocate to the outskirts, then we open up more access roads.

Atukwatse Wilbroad Karweibare Build a good and efficient railway line, have a well-designed road network system and bring good town buses.

Babiry Lilbab Lilliyan KCCA should first handle the road network within Kampala and its suburbs, make sure that all traffic lights are installed where they're supposed to be, make sure all the drainage channels are worked upon, and also ensure the roads are like four lanes...

Atukwatse Wilbroad Karweibare Build a good and efficient railway line, have a well-designed road network system

@emmanuelkate6: Probably a commercial capital and administrative capital separation as two cities

@nansinguzaj: A sustainable solution to "roadside parking" should be looked into.

@Odyomo1: Companies should introduce shared rides for their employees.

 @JulianOkello: Manage street parking within the city, move high-density areas like owino outside the city.

Umurafu Paul Shisoni: Besides the buildup by cars, boda bodas have also become a nuisance in the city. Therefore the KCCA must address boda bodas at the same time.

Guma Guma: Ban cars from entering the city centre. Develop bicycle infrastructure in the city centre. Let only bicycles and a few delivery vans enter the city centre. Develop a robust public tram-way or city-bus transport system.