Police block routes for Car-Free Day in Kampala

By Olivia Nabaggala

24^th March 2023

Police have issued a traffic advisory for the Kampala capital city Car Free Day event scheduled for Sunday 26^th March 2023.

It is the first of its kind to be organized in Kampala by KCCA aimed at promoting road sharing with vulnerable members of the public and reducing emission from vehicles according to the organizers.

Speaking to the press at the City Hall ahead of the D-day the Kampala Metropolitan Traffic Police Commander Rodgers Kauma Nsereko noted that all roads leading to the independence monument, the main venue will be closed to motorists and it will be accessed by those on foot and cyclists.

Among the roads that will be closed include square 2 road, Speke road from post office to imperial road.

Motorists who have been using those roads will use Pilkington Road towards Kimathi Avenue and Nile Avenue to their final destinations.

He further urged the public to abide by the instructions from traffic police officers deployed for the event to avoid unnecessary delays and inconveniences.

The Deputy Executive Director of KCCA Eng. David Luyimbaazi noted that this is a pilot project to see how people behave on roads without motor vehicles.

He also adds that many events will be seen to create a mindset change to everyone and once it’s a success it will be done annually.

The first ever car free day in Kampala was held in 2011 and has since become an annual event, although during the past three years, due to the global COVID19 pandemic, this day was not celebrated due to health directives in place prohibiting major gatherings of people.