In the ensuing chaos, some protesters started attacking some police officers especially those that are stationed in isolated places.
Cars stuck in a Traffic jam on Mawanda Raid
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officers had been withdrawn.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.