The Mulago roundabout where traffic lights were installed. According KCCA, motorists who run red lights will face automatic ticketing, marking a significant shift in the enforcement of traffic laws in the capital city. PHOTOS/GEOFREYMUTUMBA
Kampala’s chaotic junctions are getting smarter and stricter by the day. A silent revolution is flashing red, yellow, and green across the city – and it might finally bring order to Uganda’s notoriously disorderly traffic. If you have driven through Kampala’s roads in recent weeks, you will have noticed that most of the junctions have been fitted with traffic lights to control the flow of vehicles.
Take, for example, Bombo Road. Traffic lights now start at the T-junction on Kyagwe Road in the city centre, continuing past Watoto Church, around Bat Valley Primary School, through Wandegeya, and onwards to Kubiiri. The distance between these traffic lights is so short that a journey from Wandegeya to the city centre, which previously took around five minutes, can now take close to 20 minutes following the installation of the lights.
According to the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the traffic lights are more than just visual indicators – they now carry real consequences. For the first time, motorists who run red lights will face automatic ticketing, marking a significant shift in the enforcement of traffic laws in the capital.
The push to signalise junctions is part of a broader infrastructure initiative supported by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and KCCA. In 2022, the two entities launched a technical cooperation project titled: The Project for Capacity Enhancement of KCCA in Management of Traffic Flow in Kampala City. The project involves the construction of a traffic control centre at City Hall, the implementation of Japan’s “Moderato” traffic control system, and the signalisation of 27 junctions across Kampala. It also includes the removal of five major roundabouts – Rwenzori Courts, Grand Imperial, Mulago Mortuary, Kubiiri, and one other key intersection – to ease traffic flow. The Shs63 billion project is scheduled to be completed in 30 months and aims to decongest Kampala’s central business district. KCCA spokesperson Daniel Nuwabine said the improvements have already made a visible impact. “Where we have completed work, like at Mulago and Kubiiri, there has been a huge reduction in traffic,” he said.
“If you remember the congestion that was always at Mulago roundabout, it has significantly gone down. That’s because of road widening and more structured signalisation,” Mr Nuwabine added. He also revealed that the full implementation of the project has experienced minor delays. Mr Nuwabine said although the initial timeline targeted completion by May, logistical issues – including disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict delaying equipment shipments – may extend the project deadline to July. Despite the signalisation of many city junctions, Mr Nuwabine acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly with boda boda riders who continue to ignore traffic lights. “When they don’t see a traffic officer, they feel they are not accountable,” said Mr Michael Kananura, the spokesperson for the Police Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety. “Even if traffic lights are there, they still break them. And if 100 boda bodas violate the signal, one traffic officer cannot stop them all – but the cameras are capturing them,” he added.
Road accidents
Beyond easing congestion, the initiative directly addresses Uganda’s alarming road safety statistics. In 2023 alone, 4,806 Ugandans lost their lives in road crashes – an increase from 4,534 deaths in 2022. This equates to an average of 13 deaths per day, underscoring the urgency of reforming the country’s road management systems. With Kampala’s growing population and an increasingly overstretched road network, traffic management has become not just a matter of convenience but one of necessity. The new system, which is backed by surveillance cameras and data-driven controls, is designed to regulate road use and reduce accidents at some of the city’s busiest junctions. Mr Kananura confirmed that violators of traffic light rules would now face automatic fines. “When people or drivers get to the roads, they turn their minor problems into emergencies.
Someone is rushing a child to school; another is late for a meeting. But everyone cannot go at once. We are saying, let these lights regulate us and confirm who is supposed to move,” he said.
According to Mr Kananura, vehicles that disobey traffic signals will receive auto-tickets through camera surveillance, and offenders will be fined Shs100,000 per violation. “Signalising the traffic junctions has reduced jams, except for those who violate the signals. But we have medicine for them. With cameras in place, we will issue automatic tickets. So, either you comply or get yourself a ticket,” he warned.
The automatic ticketing system marks a major technological advancement for Kampala, where traffic enforcement has traditionally relied on manual policing. Mr Kananura said intersections are often the sites of serious road accidents due to confusion and aggressive driving. “Where there are no lights, everyone wants to move at once. You find cars knocking each other from different directions. But when one side stops and the other is released, movement becomes smooth,” he said.
What locals say
Ms Nakijjobo Gabriella, a resident of Mulago, said despite the installation of new traffic signals at various junctions, crossing roads remains a challenge.
“The new traffic signals at the junctions have come with more zebra crossings, but motorists don’t respect pedestrians who want to cross. What do we do?” she asked. Mr Yubu Kalule, a boda boda rider at Wandegeya, welcomed the initiative and called on fellow riders to respect the lights. “I am thrilled with the new traffic signals at the different junctions. We ought to have the virtue of patience while on the road. The signals are not bad – they are for our good. I am glad they have been put in place,” Mr Kalule said.
2023 traffic report
According to the 2023 road traffic report, 16,736 road users sustained serious injuries in crashes – up from 15,227 the previous year. Private vehicles were involved in most of the accidents, followed by vehicles of unknown origin, foreign-registered vehicles, central government cars, NGO vehicles, and even law enforcement and military transport. These figures align with global trends.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that road crashes are one of the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for 1.35 million fatalities each year. In Africa, pedestrian deaths make up 40 percent of all traffic fatalities. Uganda, with a population of 45.5 million, records around 50 road crashes daily, affecting over 18,426 people annually. Of these, 17.5 percent die, and 74.5 percent suffer severe injuries requiring hospital care.
