Ahead of Uganda Martyrs’ Day celebrations in Namugongo this Saturday, the police have issued traffic guidelines to ensure smooth traffic flow.
During a media briefing on Monday, Rogers Kawuma Nsereko, the traffic commander for Kampala Metropolitan Police, outlined the restricted access points to Namugongo.
Taxi stages along Namugongo Road, Kyaliwajala Trading Center, Sonde, and Nalya have been prohibited. This ban is in line with the traffic police’s traffic flow plan, which aims to facilitate the orderly movement of vehicles during the festivities.
Nsereko warned that any taxis found operating at these prohibited stages will be impounded, and the drivers will face penalties. Additionally, abandoned vehicles along the designated roads will be towed at the owner’s expense.
Notably, the traffic flow on the Jinja-Kampala highway will not be affected. The Kireka-Kyaliwajala road will only be accessible for vehicles heading to Namugongo shrines.
In terms of parking, vehicles with appropriate stickers carrying VIPs will be permitted to access the parking area at the Basilica and the Protestant church. Foreign pilgrims visiting the Basilica, whose vehicles bear blue stickers, will be dropped off at the Kyaliwajala trading center, and their vehicles will be parked at Vienna College School.
Pilgrims en route to the Mamre International Prayer Center can access the venue through Bweoyogerere, Butto, Kyobe, and Janda roads, following the traffic police’s parking instructions. Similarly, members of the Muslim community traveling to Namugongo Mosques should proceed via Bweyogerere Buto Road and park adjacent to the mosque.
Restricted access areas include Bwoyogerere trading center, Agenda 2000, Kiratown council roundabout, Seeta trading center, Naalya roundabout, and Namugongo Ssemambo road. Furthermore, there will be no public parking available at both the Catholic church and the Church of Uganda church.
These traffic guidelines will take effect from 3 am on June 3, 2022.
Uganda Martyrs Day is an annual event commemorating the 45 young men who embraced Christianity between 1885 and 1887 despite the disapproval of Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda. In response, Kabaka Mwanga II ordered their execution by burning.