Government seeks Shs1.5t to decongest city

The minister of Works and Transport, Ms Monica Azuba, has said they are seeking $430m (about Shs1.5 trillion) to commence the project of decongesting Kampala Metropolitan Area.

Of the required money, about Shs1.4 trillion will be dedicated to construction of carriageways, erect 26 bus stations, three terminals, and develop a modern ticketing system that caters for passenger information.
About Shs127b ($35m) will compensate the project-affected persons and about Shs18b ($5m) for contingents to the World Bank, who are expected to avail the funds.
The project will be implemented in three phases over the next three to four years.

Speaking at the joint transport sector review workshop at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, yesterday, Ms Azuba said when the whole process is complete, private companies will bid for contracts to avail the busses which will be plying major routes to Namanve, Gayaza and Zana, and other places around the city.

“Already many development partners have come on board and would like to take part. We are hoping that we shall manage traffic in the city this way,” Ms Azuba said.
The ministry has in the past championed the decongestion of the city through government authorities such as Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) but they have only managed to increase movement within the central business area by one decimal point, from 4.2 minutes per km in 2017/2018 to 4.1 minutes per km in 2018/2019.

Taxi, boda boda fate
Officials at the ministry blamed the congestion on the many taxis and boda boda riders.
Mr Benon Kajuna, the director of transport in the Ministry of Works and Transport, said the problem will be dealt with by giving priority to the buses to access the Bus Traffic Transit (BRT) area.

“When the project kicks off, we shall push the taxis and boda bodas out and allow them to operate from the feeder roads which connect to the BRT area,” Mr Kajuna said.
He added: “Our plan is to formalise and modernise their operations and see that they are safe to use. We shall also train drivers, who will work within the city.”
However, many boda bodas and taxi operators, said the move is aimed at rendering them jobless.

Mr Job Kitimbo, a boda boda cyclist on Nakasero and Ben Kiwanuka Street in the city centre, said government has been against them rather than organising their work within the available space.
“They should just put clear stages within the city rather than throwing us out,” Mr Kitimbo said.

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