There is a traffic gridlock in parts of Kinawataka, Kyaliwajjala, Nakawa, Bugolobi and Lugogo following the closure of part of Jinja road from Spear Motors in Nakawa to Kireka.
The section of the road was closed to facilitate a smooth flow of traffic towards Kyambogo Cricket grounds, the venue for the nomination of Presidential candidates. The two-day exercise starts today, with the nomination of Yoweri Museveni, the candidate for the National Resistance Movement-NRM party.
According to a plan released earlier by the Traffic Police, motorists are diverted at Spear Motors, Banda Trading Centre, Kireka Trading Centre, Kigobe Road at National Council of Higher Education and Jokas Hotel. The section between Spear Motors and Kireka Trading Centre ha has only been reserved for Members of the Electoral Commission, Presidential Aspirants, Service Vehicles, Emergency Vehicles and Security Vehicles.
Those travelling from Kampala to Mukono have been advised to instead use Old Port bell Road, Spring Road via Kireka Road to Kinawataka and join Kampala – Jinja Highway at Bweyogerere Trading Centre or drive through New Port bell Road Nakawa, Chwa II Road, Kinawataka, Jokas Hotel and join Kampala – Jinja Highway at Bweyogerere Trading Centre.
Military, traffic and Field Force Unit personnel have mounted roadblocks at Kireka junction diverting all vehicles to Kinawataka road. As a result, hundreds of vehicles are stuck in Kinawataka, a journey of 15 minutes now takes more than an hour, to cross.
Kireka taxi park has been deserted. Although it usually hosts taxis from Kyaliwajjala, Namugongo, Kira, Mukono and Sonde, today, it has been taken over by police trucks. Kireka town, which is usually busy by seven 7 a.m, is currently a shadow of itself with more security personnel in-sight than ordinary people.
In Naalya, Namugongo, Kiwatule, and Najjeera, there is visibly no movement of traffic, as long queues build-up from all corners. Police is also heavily deployed at junctions of Mukono-Bweyogere to divert vehicles from proceeding to Namboole junction. Only pedestrians are allowed to cross the checkpoints.
Several travellers have now resorted to motorcycles which have also hiked their rates. a Journey which usually costs 3,000 Shillings is now charged 5,000 Shillings or even more on a motorcycle.
Mary Nassolo, who was found bargaining for a bodaboda said she had boarded a taxi from Seeta but realised that the journey will take much longer than expected and opted to alight.
Tonny Muwanga a taxi driver said today he is dropping passengers in Kireka because he is not sure what will be in town. “If I go to town it’ll take me more than two hours to reach. I’m dropping passengers here and they find other means,” Muwanga said.
Lumbuye Juma, a bodaboda rider said it is time to make money since most people are trying to beat the traffic jam.
