Traffic jam in city: How to go around it?

Traffic jam along Jinja road. PHOTO BY Sadat Mbogo.

Whether you use private means or public transport in Kampala, you may encounter police officers controlling traffic flow instead of the signal lights. Many wonder why humans seem to take over role of traffic lights, which are automatic and considered more efficient.
“I get angry when the traffic police do this,” says Andrew Kaggwa, a taxi driver on Kawempe-Bombo Road.

Similarly, Julius Muhirwoha, who manages a betting company, thinks that traffic police cause more confusion than they solve.
He bases his argument on the fact that drivers know the meanings of light signals and can regulate themselves.

Causes of congestion
Failure to observe lanes, greatly contributes to traffic congestion in the city. Many drivers use lanes, which are not taking them to their destinations because they think they go fast that way.

Ignorance regarding alternative roads is another reason why city roads are always crowded.
Citing an example of those who drive from Nakawa up to Clock Tower when going to Entebbe,
Wambesyo points out that one can connect to Entebbe Road via Kabalagala and Makindye instead.
The increasing number of vehicles is another factor. Every day, new vehicles come on the road, which also means new drivers.

“Many roads were constructed more than 20 years ago. Vehicles are increasing but the roads are still the same,” Wambesyo states.

Police efforts
To avert the traffic congestion, police conducts community sensitisation programmes for the public regardless of whether one is a driver or not. A pedestrian of today is the tomorrow’s driver.

“We teach traffic regulation in schools because students are future drivers. Besides, they can pass the message to parents,” he adds.

In addition, police is planning similar programmes in taxi parks and also educate those they get in wrong so that they do not repeat the same mistakes. “Penalising is not our priority. But we do penalise drivers who are adamant on not following the rules,” he adds.

On the side of city planning, Joseph Ssemambo, the director for physical planning, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), while speaking to media recently explained the reasons for congestion.

The radial pattern of the road network, where roads converge at one point in the city centre, but without ring roads to offset traffic that may have no business in the city centre, encourages congestion.

Related to this is the present location of transportation terminals (taxi and bus parks) in the city centre, creating a convergence zone that attracts traffic jams.
Other factors that contribute to congestion, he highlighted, include the general condition of the roads, most of which are potholed, absence of properly signalised intersections, and poor interconnections and interchanges.

Ssemambo cited land use pattern contributes to traffic congestion—markets and schools are in the city centre instead of residential areas.
The public transport structure is yet another cause. The focus should be on buses, trains and trams, which are mass transit.

KCCA cancelled its decades-old long contract with Utoda and was to phase out 14-seater commuter taxis in preference for vehicles with bigger capacity to decongest the city.
In addition, KCCA razed some poorly planned structures to ensure only buildings within its approved plans remain.

Peter Kaujju, KCCA’s spokesperson, says there are renovations of access roads. Those still under construction roads add up to 182km.
“We are working on several alternative routes. We believe this will help to reduce the congestion in the city.”

The vision to make Kampala a congestion-free city will be achieved under Kampala Institution Infrastructure Development funded by World Bank.

Police take

Israel Wambesyo, the Police’s director of traffic and road safety in Kampala Metropolitan Area, counters that traffic officers do a great job compared to automated traffic lights. “We ensure easy, fast and better flow especially during the rush hours of the morning and evening.”

Traffic officers stop vehicles from proceeding in a certain destination after their colleagues have informed them of congestion at different junctions. They let those going to other destinations, where there are no congestion, proceed.
“Why would an officer stop vehicles from moving? It is the impatient drivers that have such arguments,” Wambesyo says.

To note
When going to Kasubi, Namugongo, Entebbe, Bugolobi and Natete.
From Kasubi, use Sezibwa-Yusuf Lule-Mulago Roundabout-Wandegeya-Makerere Hill Rd-Apollo Kaggwa-Nakulabye and Kasubi.

From Nakawa, Naguru, Bugolobi and Ntinda, access Nakulabye or Kasubi through Mukwano-Kibuli-Ggaba-Usafi-Mengo Hill-Ring Rd-Kabaka Anjagala-Mengo Bakuli-Nakulabye.

For Namugongo and Mukono, go via Bombo Rd-Wandegeya-Kalerwe-Northern Bypass-Ntinda-Naalya-Kyaliwajala and Namugongo. One can use Sezibwa, Fairway Roundabout-Acacia Avenue-Upper Kololo-Kamwokya-Ntinda-Naalya-Kyaliwajala and Namugongo.

To Natete, Masaka, Mityana and Nansana. Use Natete via Bombo Road-Wandegeya-Kalerwe-Northern Bypass-Busega Roundabout and Natete. Alternatively, use Kawempe-Bwaise-Northern Bypass-Busega Roundabout, and Natete. Namirembe Rd-Mengo Bakuli-Wakaliga-Mengo.

Going to Entebbe, use Queens Way-Kibuye Roundabout-Masaka-Kabusu-Nalukolongo- Natete. From Entebbe, get to city centre from Zzana-Bunamwaya-via Ssembuule-Kabusu-Namirembe Rd-Nakulabye, and Wandegeya.