REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

MINISTRY OF WORKS AND TRANSPORT

A PRESENTATION ON NON-MOTORISED
TRANSPORT (NMT) INITIATIVES IN
UGANDA
BY
MR.BENON.M.KAJUNA
COMMISSIONER FOR POLICY AND
PLANNING
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Over view of Uganda`s Transport Sector

Brief on Uganda`s Transport Policy

Brief on Road Transport Services in Uganda, Its deficiencies

and constraints

NMT Challenges in Uganda

Planned interventions for NMT in Uganda

Conclusion

Overview of Uganda`s Transport Sector

Uganda uses a multi-modal transport system, based on road, air, railway, lake and
river transport services.

1. Road network is classified into :

National Roads

20,800 km

District Roads

27,500 km

Urban Roads

Community Roads

4,800 km
35,000 km.

2. Rail Transport

Total Uganda rail network is 1,266 km

However, only 330 km is operational, .i.e. Malaba to Kampala (250 km), Tororo-Mbale
(55km) and Kampala-Port Bell (9km)

Other lines were closed due to their technical deficiencies and inadequate traffic
volumes, though Feasibility studies for their rehabilitation/upgrading are near
completion.
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Overview of Uganda`s Transport Sector

3. Inland water Transport

Uganda`s inland water transport system in has three (3) main components, namely:
a) Wagon ferry services on Lake Victoria ;
b) Shortdistance road vehicle ferries acting as road bridges;
c) Informal sector operations by individually owned canoes.

URC Wagon ferry services ceased in 2005 after two of the Ugandan ferries were
involved in a mid-lake collision

However, Plans to refurbish and reinstate the two wagon ferries are in final stages

4. Air Transport

Uganda`s air transport is dominated by the international sector, with very low levels
of usage in the domestic market;

The main international airport is at Entebbe International Airport with a main runway
of 3,600 metres;

Five upcountry airports i.e. Gulu, Arua, Kasese, Pakuba, and Kidepo, are designated
as entry-exit points;

There are 60 licensed airfields around the country, only about 30 are in current use,
with 19 having regular services.
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MANAGEMENT OF UGANDA`S TRANSPORT SECTOR

The transport sector in Uganda is steered by the Ministry of Works and Transport whose
mission is to promote adequate, safe and well maintained works and transport
infrastructure and services for socio-economic development of Uganda.

Other key actors in Ugandas transport sector include:

UNRA responsible for development and maintenance of national roads;

URF responsible for financing maintenance of public roads;

CAA responsible for management of Uganda`s air transport sub-sector;

URC responsible for railway transport;

KCC and other Urban and District Local governments responsible for the construction,
rehabilitation and maintenance of roads district, urban and community access roads.

MoLG responsible for coordinating the financing of district roads

MoFPED, and Development Partners responsible for mobilizing sector funding

Private Sector Service Providers responsible for promoting professionalism and selfregulation of standards and codes of conduct in the transport infrastructure sector.

UGANDA`S TRANSPORT POLICY

Uganda`s Transport Policy is set within the principles of Governments overall

economic policy and strategy which include the eradication of poverty, liberalization
of the economy, and decentralization of public sector responsibilities.

Ugandas medium-term transport sector policy aims at promoting cheaper, efficient

and reliable transport services as the means of providing effective support to
increased

agricultural

and

industrial

production,

trade,

tourism,

social

and

administrative services.

While implementing this policy, emphasis is placed on the promotion of active private
sector participation while Government role is limited to regulation, provision policy
guidelines and cost-effective, development of a technically sound, economically and
politically justified and financially sustainable infrastructure.

UGANDA`S TRANSPORT POLICY Continued

Key Features
Contribute, through transport services, to an increase in trade, employment and a reduction
in poverty;
Improve access to public services, markets, and employment, through improved rural and
urban transport infrastructure;
Ensure good customer choice by promoting provision of efficient inter-modal interchange
facilities;
Promote private sector operation of transport services, and encourage private sector
investment in infrastructure;
Promote equitable treatment of different transport modes, allowing efficiency and modal
suitability to determine modal split;
Promote modal integration, including container transhipment facilities at interchange
points between all modes;
Ensure safety of transport networks and operations;
Establish a long-term master plan to guide rational and complementary development of all
modes;
Promote greater integration of Government and land use planning in Kampala and other
urban areas and seek to reduce the need for motorised transport in Kampala City centre;
Provide a safe environment for pedestrian and non-motorised transport;
Promote equal opportunities for women in employment and provision of services;
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BRIEF ON ROAD TRANSPORT SERVICES IN UGANDA

Road transport remains the dominant form of transport, carrying over 95% of
country`s goods traffic and 99% for the case of passenger traffic;

Road traffic has continued to grown rapidly in recent years, especially in the GKMA;

Current national vehicle population is estimated at 635,656 vehicles (including

motorcycles) with a potential growth of more than 10% per annum, and half of which
are located in the city or ply the city roads daily;

Commercial passenger and goods transport by road is exclusively performed by the

private sector;

Passenger transport fleet is mainly dependent on the minibuses and single-passenger

taxi-motorcycles; with a small fleet of large buses offering public transport services to
passengers mainly for long distance or inter-state journeys;

Road transport and safety regulation by MoWT is still insufficient as accident levels are
still very high, and claiming lives of road users mostly NMT

NON MOTORISED TRANSPORT (NMT) IN UGANDA

NMT is of great importance in developing countries such as

Uganda due to inaccessibility to motorised transport by
majority of the population.

Different types of NMT being used in Uganda include bicycles,

carts, wheelbarrows and pedestrian transport;

Pedestrian transport walking is by far the most prevalent

NMT used in rural areas of Uganda;

In Urban areas, Pedestrian traffic is heavy on routes leading

to shopping centers/ markets, commercial areas and to the
taxi and bus parks;

Next to walking, bicycles are the next commonest mode of

NMT in Uganda;
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NMTsinUgandacontd.
Bicycleshavebecomewidelyavailable:
Theycanutilisesmalltracks,
Cancarryloadsofupto100kgormore,andoffermorerapid
transportthanwalking
Bicyclesarebeingusedcommerciallyforcarriageofpassengers,
especiallyinsomeurbancentreslikeJinja,Tororo,Kabaleand
Kampala;
Wheelbarrows arealsousedforshortdistancecarriageofsmall
loads
TheuseofCarts,AnimalandTractorhaulagehasnotbeenso
commoninUganda.Therehas,however,beenatraditionofox
cultivationinpartsofnorthernUganda.
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EXISTING SITUATION: KAMPALA CITY

TRAFFIC CONGESTION & ABSENCE OF NMT
FACILITIES

CHALLENGES/DEFICIENCES /CONSTRAINTS OF NMT IN IN

UGANDA

There are No pedestrian streets or walk-ways

Most roads in Uganda are narrow and road space is shared with road
side parking.

Only a few roads have footways

Footways are often encroached on by vendors;

There are no bicycle lanes

The few overhead crossings available do not seem to be popular and

convenient from the pedestrian point of view;

The provision of guardrails is almost absent;

Road signage is generally poor

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NMTsChallengesinUgandacontd.

People cross from wherever it is convenient,

This forces pedestrians and cyclists to move on the roads

causing not only traffic congestion on the road but also
endangering their safety;

NMT Road users are very prone to accidents

Absence of a stand-alone National policy on NMTS in Uganda

Itisthereforeachallengethatacountrywhereonly1%ofthepopulation
ownacarlacksfacilitiesforpedestriansandcyclists.Thisreflectsalackof
appreciationoftheroleplayedbythesemodes,andagenerallackofequity
inresourceallocation.
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NMT USERS DIE MOST IN ROAD ACCIDENTS IN UGANDA

PERSONSKILLEDBYROADUSERCATEGORY;2006
2008
1200

No.OFPERSONSKILLED

1000

800

600

400

200

Drivers

Passengers

MotorCyclists

PedalCyclists

Pedestrians

2006

112

665

198

296

900

2007

125

712

198

296

1003

2008

111

547

365

242

770

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ENCROACHED WALKWAYS BY VENDORS FORCE

PADESTRIANS TO WALK IN THE ROAD AND
ENDANGERING THEIR OWN SAFETY

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PLANNED INTEVENTIONS FOR NMT IN UGANDA

Implementation of NTMP/GKMA;

GoU in 2009 developed a NTMP/GKMA, which sets out a framework for

development of Uganda`s transport sector over the next 15 years;

The NTMP/GKMA recognises NMT as a low cost form of transport that

Uganda should develop so as to contribute to alleviating poverty in remote
rural communities, by bringing farmers and others into the market economy;
According to NTMP/GKMA, Facilities such as carts and tractors can be
communally purchased and operated at the village level e.g. through village
cooperatives;
They are dependent, however, on the infrastructure of tracks and pathways
being maintained in adequate condition for at least most of the year.
Essential maintenance can also be organised communally at the village level.

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NMTsinterventionsinUgandacontd.
General recommendations related to NMT:
9 The NTMP/GKMA emphasises the key role played
by non-motorised forms
9 Infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists should
be included in all major works for road upgrading
and strengthening
9 The need to take care of a large no. of pedestrians
in urban areas.
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PLANNED INTEVENTIONS FOR NMT IN UGANDA

Under TMPGKMA, Key considerations in
addressing the TMP goals include:

Road configuration and design standards,

Traffic management, traffic flow and road
safety,
Traffic signal and road furniture standards,
Railway crossing improvements,
Pedestrian pavement and crossing facilities,
The appropriate balance between different
types of public transport.
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NMTsinNTMPcontd.
Specific Recommendations under TMP/GKMA
That a total length of 122.9 km of Dual Carriageways will be
constructed over the 15 year period,
Separate pedestrian pavements would be provided, and
appropriate provision would also be made for non-motorised
vehicles (NMV);
That a total length of 572.9 km of single carriage ways will be
upgraded and properly engineered to provide for Separate bays
for public transport, and appropriate pedestrian and NMV
facilities;
Safety Improvements will be carried out at 62 junctions, 27
railway crossings, and construction of pedestrian pavements
along 1,053 km of road to minimise accident risks caused by
conflict between trains, motor vehicles and pedestrians at railway
crossings
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PLANNED INTEVENTIONS FOR NMT IN UGANDA

CONTINUED

RecommendedGKMATransportInvestment(200823)inUS$Millions
No.
(0)

Investment Type
(1)

I.

Length / No of Sites
(2)

Estimated Investment cost

(3)

4.74 km

50.80

Roads

1.

Dual Carriageway with Railway Viaduct

2.

Other Dual Carriageways

122.85 km

300.73

3.

Single Carriageway

572.93 km

473.37

Total (Roads)

700.52 km

824.90

II.

Safety improvements

1.

Junction Improvements

62 locations

81.60

2.

Railway Crossings

27 locations

12.65

3.

Pedestrian Pavements and Crossings

1,053 km

30.26

Total (Safety Improvements)

124.51

Total (Investment Costs)

949.41

Source: The NTMP /GKMA

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PLANNED INTEVENTIONS FOR NMT IN UGANDA

CONTINUED

1. INTRODUCTION OF BRT IN GKMA

NTMP/GKMA recommended introduction of BRT in GKMA
A pre-feasibility study was completed in May 2010 and procurement of
design consultant is at short listing stage
Findings of BRT pre-feasibility study related to NMT

Kampala city has got a high pedestrian activity with limited and encroached footway
width by vendors, which forces pedestrians to walk in the carriageway and
endangering their lives

Many People in GKMA do not afford money to pay for public transport walk to work
and home in morning and evening rush hours and the average trip length for walking
is 4 kms at a speed of 5 km per hour

Walking will be the dominant mode of transport for people to reach the BRT stations

Cycling in GKMA is not much seen in GKMA due to the unsafe traffic, hilly terrain and
lack of bicycle parking facilities

More than 50% of people dying in road accidents in GKMA are pedestrians
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NMT SUPPORTING ACTIONS FOR A SUSTAINABLE BRT IN GKMA

BRT in GKMA will only be successful when motorized traffic is reduced and
NMT facilities improved;
NMT network to support BRT as feeder and distributor and also provide
alternative safe routing to the city centre;

Scarce urban transport space to be used most effectively to enhance

mobility of people by providing space for pedestrians, bicycles and mass
transit;

The development of BRT will improve development of NMT in the following

ways:
i)

Making Kampala a walkable city by:

constructing of pedestrian footways with minimum width of 1:50m at

both sides of every urban road and also pedestrian over bridges [This is being
implemented on most of urban road improvement projects in Kampala]

9 Constructing wider pedestrian pavements of minimum 2 meters wide

along all BRT routes to accommodate high passenger flows to and from
BRT stations;
9 Provide BRT routes with raised zebra crossing every 400 metres
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NMT SUPPORTING ACTIONS FOR A SUSTAINABLE BRT IN GKMA

ii) Providing Cycling Infrastructure
9 Provide separate cycling infrastructure for private bicycles and taxi
bicycles through formulation of a bicycle path master plan
9 Provide sufficient and safe bicycle parking facilities and waiting shades for
taxi bicycles at BRT stations outside the BRT trunk corridor
iii) Increase road safety by traffic calming through:
9 Provide zebra crossings on BRT corridors to have an easy access to BRT
stations
9 Redesign all junctions on the BRT corridor to reduce vehiclular speed
9 constructing of pedestrian footways with minimum width of 1:50m at
both sides of every urban road and also pedestrian over bridges
9 Constructing wider pedestrian pavements of minimum 2 meters wide
along all BRT routes to accommodate high passenger flows to and from
BRT stations
9 Provide BRT routes with raised zebra crossing every 400 metres

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PLANNED INTEVENTIONS FOR NMT IN UGANDA

CONTINUED

2. Road network improvement in GKMA

With technical assistance from JICA, GoU has completed a study on road network
improvement in GKMA including preliminary designs;

According to the study, 5 major road projects have been identified for widening to
dual carriageway, junction improvement and construction of fly over the next 3-5
years;

Also, a road safety improvement plan for GKMA has been formulated.

The above efforts are expected to contribute to development of NMT in GKMA by

Providing sufficient and safe walking and cycling facilities.

3. Continued Collaboration with Promoters of NMT in Uganda

GoUthroughMoWThasworkedcloselywithTheFirstAfricanBicycleInformation
Organization(FABIO)basedinEasternUganda.

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CONCLUSION

GoU is updating the Transport Policy and Strategy and NMT must be
recognized
Although the importance of NMT may have been overlooked by
Government in the past, GoU is now committed to providing better NTM
facilities and promoting the use of NTM as vital tool for sustainable
development;.

GoU believes that non-motorized forms of transportation are more readily

available to all communities and for agro-based economies like Uganda,
farmers can afford to convey their produce to markets for sale, families
can afford to transport the sick to health canters;

Hence promoting use of NMT will go a long way in uplifting the conditions
of living of the population.

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Thank you very

much for Listening
to me
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