The Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) is set to implement systems to put in control Boda boda cyclists and street vendors in a bid to deal with the issue of over-congestion and bring order to Kampala City.
Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, the Cabinet Minister of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Areas, made these vows while presenting the ministry’s achievements and commitments on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Manifesto during the NRM Manifesto week, which took place on December 4, 2024, at the Office of the Prime Minister, Kampala.
Kabanda asserted that the complaint of over-congestion of Kampala City has been overdue, and KCCA is coming up with favorable systems to overcome the congestion stating that the issue of street vendors is being solved.
“Government is set to construct 17 markets in Kampala Metropolitan Areas under the UGX 2.1 trillion Greater Kampala Metropolitan Areas Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP). Some markets have already been constructed, like the Busega Market. We shall allocate space to all vendors, and those who resiliently remain on the streets will be arrested,” Kabanda revealed.
Kabanda added that vendors and the public at large should change their mindset about street vending, stating it will be the only way to overcome street vendors.
“The public at large should avoid buying goods on the street and should instead enter market buildings to buy goods. The more people buy on the street, the more vendors will bring their goods on the street,” she added.
William Epyaka, the Deputy Director of Strategy Management and Business Development at KCCA, said they have kicked off with the gazettement of boda stages and are set to introduce a rapid bus transit system that will help to ease traffic flow in and out of Kampala Capital.
“Boda stage gazetting has kicked off with areas of Makindye and central Kampala already concluded. This is to reduce the number of cyclists accessing the city area. Each cyclist will have a reflector jacket with a bar code for identification. We believe this will reduce the traffic and congestion in Kampala,” he stated.
This comes after a registered increase of boda boda cyclists in the capital centre with an estimated number of 350,000 cyclists. Over 108,000 cyclists are not registered with the motorcycle (boda boda) registration board. This has caused commotion in the capital and increased crime rates.
