Why traffic jams have increased in Kampala

Jimmy Kiddawalime resides in Katalemwa in Wakiso district and goes to work in Nakasero near the public service ministry offices.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, he used to leave home at 6:00 am and would get to work at 7:30 am. That hasn't changed despite schools still being closed. He says he always spends more than an hour stuck in traffic jams.

 "I usually leave the office at 5:00 pm, but get home past 7:00 pm. This stresses me every day," Kiddawalime says.

When we talk about traffic jams in the city and surrounding areas, Kiddawalime is not the only person complaining.

Most traffic jams in Kampala are caused by indiscipline on the part of drivers, according to Charles Ssembabulidde, the Traffic Police spokesperson.

Ssembabulidde adds that after the lockdown was eased, many drivers including learners started using the road thus creating a jam. He also says major road construction projects like those on Acacia Road and on the Northern Bypass among others tend to leave motorists competing for the little available space.

He adds that some drivers in trying to rush home to beat curfew, leave the city at around the same time hence creating traffic jams.

According to Ssembabulidde they have put in place measures to deal with indisciplined drivers, but they have only a few officers to man the roads.

Some roads with heavy traffic jams are Namungoona-Nansana, Nakawa-Bweyogerere, Bakuli-Kasubi Road, Wandegeya-Kalerwe, Entebbe Road, Yusuf Lule Road, Sir Apollo Kaggwa, Rubaga-Nateete, and Mulago-Kamwokya among others.

Norman Musinga, the Kampala Metropolitan Police traffic commander says there are so many reckless drivers on the roads these days.

"We have tried to control the problem through apprehending culprits, but we need to be tougher on what might be looked at as minor offences like overtaking in dangerous places, especially on the highway," Musinga says.

He says another problem is that most of the drivers are either not well-trained or have never enrolled in driving schools.

Despite repeated road safety campaigns, the Police and drivers alike seem to make little of such campaigns.

"One major problem seems to be poor enforcement of traffic laws", David Magala a senior driver says.

"Either the Police are unable or unwilling to enforce traffic rules or people know they can get away with it after committing a traffic offence."

But Rogers Nandege the acting regional traffic officer East Busoga says the Police are trying their best to do their job, but have shortcomings.

In Uganda, people drive on sidewalks, bypass traffic lights when they are showing red and people have to wait at zebra crossings for speeding vehicles to pass. Maybe with time, recognition of situations may get the people to pay attention to them.

Jacob Byamukama, the acting director engineering, and technical services say a new multi-modal urban transport master for the greater Kampala Metropolitan area was developed to mitigate the city's traffic jams.

Byamukama says the plan is in line with the Kampala physical development plan, which aims at creating a well-organised and modern urban metropolitan transport system.

Daniel Katumba, who owns Bukaka Motor Garage in Rubaga and once an instructor, says for one, you never know if the vehicles in front or behind you are unaware that a slight movement may cause a sudden minor collision in between vehicles.

Cosma Mukiibi, who owns a shop at the New Taxi Park in Kampala, says there is limited parking space and they are served on a first-come-first-serve basis, not only for customers but for business owners as well. This, he says, also contributes to traffic jams in the city.

Byamukama says they are aware of the parking problem at most commercial buildings, especially shopping malls in the city. He attributes the problem to landlords who hand in building plans indicating there is ample parking space, but later convert it to other uses.

According to Kiddawalime, the only way to beat traffic jams is to plan your trips in advance and leave at least 30 minutes early to avoid the peak hours of 6:30 am to 9:00 am and 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm.