Traffic Police Officers Abandon Posts over Protests

Traffic officers in Kampala traffic police have abandoned their posts causing unbearable traffic jam in the suburbs. This follows protests in different parts of the city following the arrest of Presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi.

Kyagulanyi was arrested on Wednesday in Luuka District for allegedly flouting Covid-19 directives on political meetings. This forced his supporters around several towns to take to the streets demanding for his release.

In the ensuing chaos, some protesters started attacking some police officers especially those that are stationed in isolated places. This forced all traffic officers who are normally on different junctions in and around Kampala to abandon these stations hence resulting in incessant traffic jams snaking several kilometres especially outside the city center that had been deserted due to the running battles.

 

Speaking to Uganda Radio Network, Luke Owoyesigyire the spokesperson of Kampala Metropolitan Police could not authoritatively comment on why the traffic officers had been withdrawn.

“I don’t have information now, but let me consult and see what the problem is,” Owoyesigyire said in a telephone interview.

In some places like Wandegeya junction, Mulago Roundabout, Garden City Roundabout, Nakulabye junction, Kawempe ku Ttaano junction, Mpererwe among others, the role of the police was taken over by civilian volunteers who were seen directing traffic.

At Kawempe, one driver said that he had spent two hours in a distance which normally takes five minutes. “It has been long since I last saw this; imagine coming from Maganjo at 5 pm, now it’s almost 7 pm, I’m yet to reach Kawempe,” Ssebuunya Joseph a motorist said.

  It should be noted that every time police withdraws its forces from streets, it results in a lot of traffic jam paralyzing the city and its suburbs.