URBAN TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN AFRICAN CITIES

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URBAN TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN AFRICAN CITIES AN
OVERVIEW OF KAMPALA

• PRESENTED BY
• GODFREY.O.WANDERA
• COMMISSIONER, 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 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

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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

• 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

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CAUSES OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN KAMPALA...3/3

1. Inadequate/ non- deployment of traffic police
   where traffic lights are not operational or
   non-existent e.g. Spear Motors Junction, Natete
   and Ntinda
2. Failure of KCC to recruit traffic wardens as per
   the provisions of the TRS Act, 1998 (section,
   166)
3. Inadequate sensitisation about traffic laws and
   regulations due to inadequate funding of TLB and
   NRSC and
4. 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
• 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.

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INTERVENTIONS 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)

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INTERVENTIONS 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

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INTERVENTIONS 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)

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INTERVENTIONS 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.

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RECOMMENDATIONS SHORT TERM. 1/2

1. Immediate enforcement of traffic regulations by
   police without fear or favour
2. Increase inspection and licensing of PSVs and
   Boda bodas (10,000 PSVs and 20,000 Boda-Bodas)
   with increased sustainable enforcement
3. Increase joint public sensitisation and education
   by NRSC, TLB, Police, KCC, Taxi and Boda-Boda
   Associations
4. Gazette Statutory Instruments on driver training
   manuals, registration of driving schools, and
   driver testing

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RECOMMENDATIONS SHORT TERM . 2/2

1. Finalise Preparation of the National Transport
   Master Plan (NTMP) including a Transport Master
   Plan for GKMA
2. Expedite maintenance of road infrastructure by
   MoWT and KCC
3. KCC should recruit Traffic Wardens as per its
   structure to avoid dependence on volunteers from
   UTODA
4. 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

• 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

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RECOMMENDATIONS 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

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RECOMMENDATIONS 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.

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RECOMMENDATIONS 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

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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