Traffic jams increasing cost of doing business

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of State for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Kyofatogabye Kabuye, has told Parliament that congestion in Kampala Capital City has a bearing on the cost of doing business, causing financial loss to travellers who use public transport.

Kabuye said that traffic jam causes fluctuation in public transport fares.

“The most affected persons are the low-income earners making up more than 40 per cent of greater Kampala Metropolitan area’s population, who spend more than 20 per cent of their gross income on transport,” Kabuye said.

Kabuye said traffic jam has increased the cost of doing business, citing distribution of commodities as one of the most affected activities.

“The costs of distributing finished products accounts for 10 percent of production against the maximum best practice of four percent due to traffic jam,”  Kabuye said.

He added that traffic jam makes employees waste much time in transit affecting productivity and development.

“Congestion also leads to a decline in productivity. Workers in Kampala spend approximately 52 days a year sitting in traffic,” he added.

He expressed concern over the increase in motor vehicles which he said were responsible for not only congestion but disorganisation in urban centres and emission of poisonous gases.

Kabuye highlighted government’s plan to address congestion in the city with the design and construction of 31.4KM of roads and installation of traffic signals at 22 junctions

He added that KCCA in conjunction with Uganda Railways Corporation is working on renovation of passenger services between Kampala and Namanve covering Nambole, Kireka and Nakawa stop overs.

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SOURCE: UGANDA PARLIAMENT MEDIA