Northern Bypass Delays Crippling Kampala’s Traffic and Business

The Kampala Northern Bypass, a crucial road network linking different parts of the city, urgently needs the completion of its renovation works to restore smooth traffic flow and support businesses.

While the repairs are necessary, the delays have created a traffic nightmare, affecting thousands of commuters, businesses, and travelers heading to Entebbe International Airport.

The contractor, Stirling Construction Company, is currently working on the Namungoona-Masanafu stretch, but traffic congestion in the area is unbearable, with motorists spending between 40 minutes to an hour traveling between the two points.

The bypass plays a key role in connecting motorists from various parts of Kampala to the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, offering a faster and more efficient route to the airport.

However, with renovation works dragging on, congestion is worsening, forcing travelers to either endure long hours in traffic or seek alternative, often less convenient, routes.

For international travelers, business executives, and cargo transporters, the bypass has long provided a reliable escape from Kampala’s gridlock.

But with roadworks taking longer than expected, access to the expressway is no longer seamless, increasing travel times and frustrating both local and international commuters.

One of the primary benefits of the Kampala Northern Bypass has been its ability to divert traffic away from the city center, reducing congestion on major roads such as Jinja Road and Entebbe Road.

However, the slow progress of repairs is now having the opposite effect, with long traffic jams spilling onto feeder roads and worsening overall congestion in the capital.

Motorists who once relied on the bypass to avoid city traffic now find themselves stuck for hours, defeating the very purpose of the road.

The situation has also led to increased fuel consumption and delays in the delivery of goods and services.

Businesses are also feeling the strain. Many traders, suppliers, and service providers depend on the bypass for quick movement across different parts of the city.

However, with bottlenecks caused by ongoing works, business operations are being disrupted, deliveries delayed, and overall productivity affected.

For workers commuting to offices, suppliers transporting goods, and taxi operators ferrying passengers, the inefficiencies along the bypass are making daily activities increasingly difficult.

Given the bypass’s strategic importance, completing its renovation should be treated with urgency.

The government and road contractors must accelerate work to ensure the road once again serves its purpose easing movement, facilitating trade, and supporting economic activities in the city.

A fully functional bypass is not just about reducing traffic; it is about keeping businesses running, helping commuters save time, and maintaining seamless access to key infrastructure like the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway.

The sooner the bypass is fully operational, the better for Kampala’s economy and its people.