Traffic chaos in Kampala as roads are closed over festival
Motorists stuck in traffic jam along Yusuf Lule road following the closure of Kampala road. Photo by Michael Kakumirizi
What you need to know:
- Uganda is hosting the weeklong JAMAFEST, bringing together over 250 participants from the six East African Community (EAC) states
Motorists in Kampala are facing chaotic traffic snarl-ups due to the closure of some roads ahead of the Jumiya ya Afrika Mashariki Utamaduni (Jamafest) festival.
With the closure of Kampala Road, which is the main artery in and out of the city centre, traffic on all the major roads has come to a standstill.
Kampala Road is one of the busiest roads in the city and its closure means traffic along all the other intersections is heavily paralyzed.
Motorists plying Jinja Road are the most affected with traffic queues stretching as far as the Lugogo By-pass.
Mukwano Road, Mukwano Round-about and the Jinja Road intersection are heavily clogged with motorists taking hours to complete a distance that averagely takes minutes.
Police has advised motorists to avoid the city centre to avoid getting caught up in the traffic chaos.
Police trucks parked at Jinja road roundabout in Kampala to provide security as Uganda hosts the weeklong JAMAFEST. Photo by Michael Kakumirizi
The traffic commnader of Kampala Metropolitan Police , Mr Israel Wambesyo on Friday said Kampala road would be closed off from Fido dido to the Jinja Road traffic lights.
Uganda is hosting the weeklong JAMAFEST, bringing together over 250 participants from the six East African Community (EAC) states.
Participants including different artistes will hold exhibitions from today to September 14 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, the National Theatre and Hotel Africana, among other venues.
This year’s JAMAFEST will be held under the theme ‘Culture and Creative Industries: the engine for unity and employment creation’, and will feature exhibitions, demonstrations of crafts and arts, processes of production and open markets. There will also be local games such as Ekigwo (wrestling), Ludo (board game) and Cheza (Okwepena) also known as dodge-ball.
Gender, Labour and Social Development Permanent Secretary Pius Bigirimana told journalists this week that “This edition of JAMAFEST is aimed at producing the Kampala declaration on culture and creative industries. It will entail a preliminary presentation and keynote speakers such as Professor Mahmoud Mamdani from Columbia University. At the closure on Sept 14, outstanding participants will be awarded.”
