The Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety has released a comprehensive traffic management plan for the upcoming Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations to ensure smooth flow and safety for all attendees.
According to the Traffics police spokesman Micheal Kananura the diversions will cause some interruptions on the roads but he has cautioned the public to comply.
Kananura reveals that the Jinja-Kampala Highway will maintain normal traffic flow, Kireka to Kyaliwajjala Road will operate as a one-way route for vehicles heading to the venue, Kyaliwajjala – Naalya Interchange will also be one -way towards Naalya, facilitating the exit from Namugongo.
Meanwhile, Kyaliwajjala Trading Center to the Basilica/Catholic Church will be designated as a pedestrian walkway. Pedestrians should keep to the right side, while the left side is reserved for VIPs, VVIPs, and emergency vehicles.
Kananura notes that all vehicles that intend to park must have stickers attached to their windscreens. He explains that VIPs with vehicles bearing appropriate stickers will access parking spaces at the Basilica/Catholic Church and Protestant Church. While VIPs to the Basilica/Catholic Church with red stickers will enter through Kyaliwajjala via Ssemambo Road and park at Namugongo Boarding Primary School.
VVIPs and VIPs to the Protestant Church will use the Bweyogerere-Butto-Kyobe road and park at the Protestant Church farm.
For foreign pilgrims with blue stickers, they will be dropped off at Kyaliwajjala Trading Center, with vehicles parking at Vienna College School. Meanwhile medical service vehicles bearing green stickers should display them clearly for easy identification and service providers for the Basilica/Catholic Church with purple stickers will access the venue through St. Kizito Lwanga Road at Namugongo Police Station entrance.
Kananura emphasizes that all vehicles must arrive by midnight on 3rd June 2024, after which no service vehicles will be allowed entry.
As for pilgrims, those headed to Mamre International Prayer Center will use the Bweyogerere-Butto-Kyobe road for access and park as directed by traffic police. Pilgrims from the Northern Bypass will park at Hillside Nursery and Primary School.
Pilgrims from Ntinda, Kiwatule, Najjera, and Kasangati have been advised to park at Kiira Town Council Playground and Kiira Municipal Council Mayor’s Garden while those traveling the Eastern route to the Protestant Church will access their venue through Seeta, Sonde, Bweyogerere Butto Kyobe road, and park at the church farm.
The traffic police spokesman says access will be regulated in areas including Naalya Roundabout, Kireka Trading Center, Bweyogerere Trading Centre, Seeta Trading Center, Agenda 2000, Namugongo-Butto-Kyobe road, Namugongo-Ssemambo road, and Kyaliwajjala Trading Center.
Vehicles and motorcycles without appropriate stickers will be stopped at designated cut-off points.No parking will be available for the general public at the Basilica/Catholic Church and Protestant/Anglican Church.
Taxi stages at Kyaliwajjala Trading Center, Sonde Road, Namugongo Road, and Naalya will be closed. Violating taxis will be impounded, and drivers penalized.
Vehicles abandoned along designated routes will be towed at the owner’s expense.