Title: URBAN TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN AFRICAN CITIES
1URBAN TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN AFRICAN CITIES AN
OVERVIEW OF KAMPALA
- PRESENTED BY
- GODFREY.O.WANDERA
- COMMISSIONER, TRANSPORT PLANNING
- MINISTRY OF WORKS AND TRANSPORT, UGANDA
2TABLE OF CONTENTS
- 1. Background
- 2. Causes of Traffic Congestion in Kampala
- 3. Interventions so far made
- 4. Recommendations
- 4. Conclusion
3BACKGROUND.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 Ugandas 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 Ugandas 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
4BACKGROUND.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.
5 CAUSES OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN
KAMPALA...1/3
- Abuse of road usage by indisciplined drivers
especially PSV drivers, Boda boda riders and
truck drivers - Centralisation of Business in Kampala
- All roads lead to the Central Business District
(CBD) - Population growth
- Vehicular traffic growth
- Narrow roads compounded by roadside parking
- General condition and geometry of roads (limited
repairs of pot holes) - Location of parks for public transport in CBD
- Lack of ring roads
6CAUSES OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN KAMPALA..2/3
- Inadequate signalised intersections/roundabouts
and frequent breakdowns of existing traffic
lights - Lack of intelligent traffic lights
- Lack of mass transit transport services e.g.
buses and trains - Lack of parking space in multi storeyed
buildings - Lack of regulations to restrict heavy vehicles
into CBD - Lack of designated stages for PSVs
- Lack of organised public bus terminals
- Perceived political patronage and interference
that hinders enforcement of traffic regulations
7CAUSES OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN KAMPALA...3/3
- Inadequate/ non- deployment of traffic police
where traffic lights are not operational or
non-existent e.g. Spear Motors Junction, Natete
and Ntinda - Failure of KCC to recruit traffic wardens as per
the provisions of the TRS Act, 1998 (section,
166) - Inadequate sensitisation about traffic laws and
regulations due to inadequate funding of TLB and
NRSC and - High political lobbying by UTODA which hinders
enforcement of traffic and road safety
regulations e.g. safety belts and speed
governors.
8Kalerwe Market Area 1
9Kalerwe Market Area 2
10Kampala Traffic Jam
11Kampala Old Taxi Park
12Dastur Street Encroachment 1
13Dastur Street Encroachment 2
14INTERVENTIONS 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 - 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. - Signalizing and channelling of road junctions
- Shoprite, Clock Tower,
Nsambya, Jinja Rd Roundabout, Wandegeya, Nakawa,
Bakuli, and Natete. - Construction of By-pass and Widening of some
roads - Construction 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.
15INTERVENTIONS SO FAR MADE.2/5
- 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. - Inspection and Licensing
- Regular inspection and licensing of PSVs and boda
bodas is carried out by TLB to ensure safety of
pax and vehicles - FY 2006/07- Licenced -2521 PSVs and 410
Boda-Bodas - FY 2007/08 Licenced 4121 PSVs and 5311
Boda-Bodas (as at 31st March 08)
16INTERVENTIONS SO FAR MADE..3/5
- 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
17INTERVENTIONS SO FAR MADE..4/5
- Enforcement
- Increased number of patrol units and traffic
police personnel and intensified enforcement of
regulations such as impounding DMCs, 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)
18INTERVENTIONS SO FAR MADE..5/5
- 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.
19RECOMMENDATIONS SHORT TERM. 1/2
- Immediate enforcement of traffic regulations by
police without fear or favour - Increase inspection and licensing of PSVs and
Boda bodas (10,000 PSVs and 20,000 Boda-Bodas)
with increased sustainable enforcement - Increase joint public sensitisation and education
by NRSC, TLB, Police, KCC, Taxi and Boda-Boda
Associations - Gazette Statutory Instruments on driver training
manuals, registration of driving schools, and
driver testing
20RECOMMENDATIONS SHORT TERM . 2/2
- Finalise Preparation of the National Transport
Master Plan (NTMP) including a Transport Master
Plan for GKMA - Expedite maintenance of road infrastructure by
MoWT and KCC - KCC should recruit Traffic Wardens as per its
structure to avoid dependence on volunteers from
UTODA - Enforce other laws and regulations related to
storeyed buildings e.g. having ample parking
space in the basements
21RECOMMENDATIONS SHORT TERM . 2/3
- Regulate the importation of used motor cycles
especially the 2 stroke engine cycles and
ensure that they are registered before going on
road - Regulate the age of motor vehicles imported into
the country - Minimise political patronage, lobbying and
interference especially by boda boda riders and
UTODA - Increase funding for Police, TLB and NRSC for
sustained implementation, enforcement and massive
sensitisation
22RECOMMENDATIONS MEDIUM TERM . 1/2
- Signalize the saturated roundabouts /
intersections with intelligent traffic lights - Increase the number of City Buses to gradually
replace matatus - Relocate the 2 Taxi Parks from Central Business
District (CBD) to places such as Nakawa, Natete
and Kawempe -
- Phase out boda bodas and matatus from CBD
23RECOMMENDATIONS MEDIUM TERM . 2/2
- Introduce private vehicle inspection
- Develop national road safety policy
- Amendment of Traffic and Road Safety Act, 1998
and formulation of other regulations and - Develop and Strengthen institutions to monitor
the implementation of the Master plan for GKMA.
24RECOMMENDATIONS LONG TERM . 1/1
- Expand GKMA Road Network by construction of
ring/circular roads, dual carriage ways, flyovers
and tarmac all murram roads within the city - Revive the railway passenger transport services
within GMKA
25CONCLUSION
- 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.
26END