MPs in Uganda have tasked the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to decongest the Central Business District (CBD) by removing boda boda (motorcycle) riders and reducing public service vehicles, APA learnt on Thursday.
Kampala as Uganda’s biggest city of 1.7 million people according a 2019 survey by the national statistics bureau, is the country’s busiest business hub with an area of 8,451.9 square km.
During a meeting of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, the Tororo District Woman MP Sarah Opendi spoke about the need for the CBD to have less motorized activity.
“This report is silent about the boda boda riders. What is the plan? Should they be left to work outside the CBD?” Opendi inquired.
She noted that over the years, KCCA has done nothing to consider sidewalks in the city for pedestrians.
“KCCA focuses more on constructing roads for cars and does not cater for pedestrians. They do not consider road safety at all yet we have so many accidents in this city. Prioritise road safety especially the walkways,” she said.
Another MP Stella Atyang (NRM, Moroto District) suggested that the KCCA should be building tram lines where the drainage channels run as one way of de-congesting the city.
“Most of the drainage systems are open. Can we consider building trams on top of Nakivubo channel so that cars are left at around Kibuye roundabout so that the CBD is left with limited traffic,” she said.
Moses Kabuusu (FDC, Kyamuswa County) agreed blaming delayed road repairs as the cause of traffic congestion in Kampala.
“When a road gets a pothole and needs repair, they dig it up causing more damage and eventually the road get dilapidated completely. Why do you dig up these potholes with no hope of filling them up immediately?” he asked.
Meanwhile the Deputy Executive Director of the KCCA, David Ssali Luyimbazi, said de-congesting Kampala will be done by clearing vendors and boda boda from its business districts.
“We shall prioritise the walkways as we plan for the roads, we plan to get the roadside vendors off the streets and all taxis back to the old taxi park,” he said.
The Minister of State for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Kyofatogabye Kabuye said plans are afoot to move public service vehicles from the CBD to the outskirts of the city.
WN/as/APA