June 20, 2022 1 URBAN TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN AFRICAN CITIES – AN OVERVIEW OF KAMPALA PRESENTED BY GODFREY.O.WANDERA COMMISSIONER, TRANSPORT PLANNING MINISTRY OF WORKS AND TRANSPORT, UGANDA
Dec 23, 2015
April 19, 2023 1
URBAN TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN AFRICAN CITIES – AN OVERVIEW OF
KAMPALA
PRESENTED BY
GODFREY.O.WANDERACOMMISSIONER, TRANSPORT PLANNING
MINISTRY OF WORKS AND TRANSPORT, UGANDA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Background 2. Causes of Traffic Congestion in Kampala 3. Interventions so far made 4. Recommendations 4. Conclusion
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BACKGROUND….[1/2]
Kampala has a population of approximately 1.5Mn people and Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) has approximately 2Mn people (i.e. about 7% of Uganda’s population);
Projected population of Kampala is about 3.6Mn people by 2018;
Workforce is about 700,000 people and the GDP of GKMA is estimated at 35% of Uganda’s GDP;
Main mode of transport is by road (approximately 600km), of which about 50% is tarmac;
Major means of transport are minibuses (matatus), private cars and boda bodas (motor cycles and bicycles);
Public transport by minibuses originate their journeys from two major Taxi Parks located in the heart of the city;
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BACKGROUND….[2/2]
Currently there is no public bus terminal in city; the existing
ones are privately owned and spread all over the city; Heavy vehicles of various capacities also traverse the city
roads; Motorcycles and bicycles are increasing in numbers and
operate on most city roads; There are approximately 15,000 minibuses operating on
different routes in the city and approximately 30,000 motorcycles;
There are approximately 41 routes which are operated from the New Taxi Park terminal and 46 routes operated from the Old Taxi Park terminal;
About 70% of passengers into and out of the city use public transport while about 30% use private cars, heavy vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles.
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CAUSES OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN KAMPALA...[1/3]
1) Abuse of road usage by indisciplined drivers especially PSV drivers, Boda boda riders and truck drivers;
2) Centralisation of Business in Kampala;
3) All roads lead to the Central Business District (CBD);
4) Population growth ;
5) Vehicular traffic growth;
6) Narrow roads compounded by roadside parking;
7) General condition and geometry of roads (limited repairs of pot holes);
8) Location of parks for public transport in CBD;
9) Lack of ring roads;
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CAUSES OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN KAMPALA……..[2/3]
11) Inadequate signalised intersections/roundabouts and frequent breakdowns of existing traffic lights;
12) Lack of intelligent traffic lights;
13) Lack of mass transit transport services e.g. buses and trains;
14) Lack of parking space in multi – storeyed buildings;
15) Lack of regulations to restrict heavy vehicles into CBD;
16) Lack of designated stages for PSVs;
17) Lack of organised public bus terminals;
18) Perceived political patronage and interference that hinders enforcement of traffic regulations;
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CAUSES OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN KAMPALA……...[3/3]
18) Inadequate/ non- deployment of traffic police where traffic lights are not operational or non-existent e.g. Spear Motors Junction, Natete and Ntinda;
19) Failure of KCC to recruit traffic wardens as per the provisions of the TRS Act, 1998 (section, 166);
20) Inadequate sensitisation about traffic laws and regulations due to inadequate funding of TLB and NRSC; and
21) High political lobbying by UTODA which hinders enforcement of traffic and road safety regulations e.g. safety belts and speed governors.
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Kalerwe Market Area 1
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Kalerwe Market Area 2
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Kampala Traffic Jam
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Kampala Old Taxi Park
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Dastur Street Encroachment 1
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Dastur Street Encroachment 2
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INTERVENTIONS SO FAR MADE…..[1/5]
1. Infrastructure Government prepared KUTIP from 2002 to 2004 whose objectives were
to: Reduce traffic congestion and improve urban mobility, reduce
time loss, vehicle operating costs, etc to road users; Improve on road safety and reduce road traffic accidents; and Improve on traffic management and enforcement in the city.
The following interventions have so far been made as a result of KUTIP:
a) Introduction of one way Traffic:-Ben Kiwanuka Street, Channel Street, Nakivubo Mews, Burton Street, Luwum Street Market Street, Sinai Bin Amir Rise, Dastur Street. Katwe Road and Diwton street.
b) Signalizing and channelling of road junctions: Shoprite, Clock Tower, Nsambya, Jinja Rd Roundabout, Wandegeya, Nakawa,
Bakuli, and Natete.
c) Construction of By-pass and Widening of some roadsConstruction of the Northern Bypass and Widening some Roads i.e Nsambya- Gaba Road, Entebbe Road and Mukwano-Kibuli Road.
Apart from KUTIP, Computerised Driving Permits were introduced to reduce forgery.
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INTERVENTIONS SO FAR MADE….[2/5]
2. Public Sensitisation The Ministry has been carrying out public sensitisation
campaigns through its statutory bodies of TLB and NRSC in conjunction with the police and Other Stakeholders.
3. Inspection and Licensing Regular inspection and licensing of PSVs and
boda bodas is carried out by TLB to ensure safety of pax and vehicles
o FY 2006/07- Licenced -2521 PSVs and 410 Boda-Bodaso FY 2007/08 – Licenced – 4121 PSVs and 5311 Boda-
Bodas (as at 31st March 08)
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INTERVENTIONS SO FAR MADE…..[3/5]
4. Licensing of City Buses
So far 3 companies are operating in the city:
Ben Conolly Pejj Ltd: The company has a fleet of 5 buses licensed to operate Mukono to Entebbe via Kampala route.
Pioneer Easy Bus: This company has a fleet of 4 buses licensed to operate on Kampala – Luzira and Kampala – Gayaza routes.
City Bus: Opertaes on Kampala – Entebbe and Kampala – Mukono routes
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INTERVENTIONS SO FAR MADE…..[4/5]
5. Enforcement
Increased number of patrol units and traffic police personnel and intensified enforcement of regulations such as impounding DMC`s, overloaded vehicles, arresting of drunken drivers, clamping down on over speeding vehicles etc;
Sensitisation has been done through the media and workshops organised by the operators;
Testing of Motor cycle riders to acquire riders’ permits
(group A)
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INTERVENTIONS SO FAR MADE…..[5/5]
6. Kampala City Council
KCC has gazetted boda boda parking stages in the 5 divisions of Kampala;
Maintained traffic lights though there are frequent break downs;
Managing street parking in the city [contracted out to Multiplex];
Managing the New and Old Taxi Parks through UTODA;
Rehabilitated and maintained some city roads.
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RECOMMENDATIONS – SHORT TERM…. [1/2]
i. Immediate enforcement of traffic regulations by police without fear or favour;
ii. Increase inspection and licensing of PSVs and Boda bodas (10,000 PSVs and 20,000 Boda-Bodas) with increased sustainable enforcement;
iii. Increase joint public sensitisation and education by NRSC, TLB, Police, KCC, Taxi and Boda-Boda Associations;
iv. Gazette Statutory Instruments on driver training manuals, registration of driving schools, and driver testing;
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RECOMMENDATIONS – SHORT TERM …. [2/2]
vi. Finalise Preparation of the National Transport Master Plan (NTMP) including a Transport Master Plan for GKMA;
vii. Expedite maintenance of road infrastructure by MoWT and KCC;
viii. KCC should recruit Traffic Wardens as per its structure to avoid dependence on volunteers from UTODA;
ix. Enforce other laws and regulations related to storeyed buildings e.g. having ample parking space in the basements;
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RECOMMENDATIONS– SHORT TERM …. [2/3]
vi. Regulate the importation of used motor cycles [especially the 2 – stroke engine cycles] and ensure that they are registered before going on road;
vi. Regulate the age of motor vehicles imported into the country;
vi. Minimise political patronage, lobbying and interference especially by boda boda riders and UTODA;
vi. Increase funding for Police, TLB and NRSC for sustained implementation, enforcement and massive sensitisation;
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RECOMMENDATIONS – MEDIUM TERM …. [1/2]
i. Signalize the saturated roundabouts / intersections with intelligent traffic lights;
ii. Increase the number of City Buses to gradually replace matatus;
iii. Relocate the 2 Taxi Parks from Central Business District (CBD) to places such as Nakawa, Natete and Kawempe;
iv. Phase out boda bodas and matatus
from CBD;
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RECOMMENDATIONS– MEDIUM TERM …. [2/2]
viii. Introduce private vehicle inspection;
ix. Develop national road safety policy;
x. Amendment of Traffic and Road Safety Act, 1998 and formulation of other regulations; and
v. Develop and Strengthen institutions to monitor the implementation of the Master plan for GKMA.
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RECOMMENDATIONS– LONG TERM …. [1/1]
i. Expand GKMA Road Network by construction of ring/circular roads, dual carriage ways, flyovers and tarmac all murram roads within the city;
ii. Revive the railway passenger transport services within GMKA;
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CONCLUSION Traffic Congestion in Kampala is a very
serious problem which has resulted into prolonged travel times, high vehicle operating costs and environmental degradation. Consequently, traffic congestion has resulted into high costs of doing business and a disincentive to investors. Government of Uganda and Development Partners are called upon to address the problem. If this challenge is not addressed quickly, Kampala will ground to a halt and majority of foreign investors might relocate to other better organised cities/countries.
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END
THANK YOU