Museveni Denies Causing Traffic Jam Along Kampala–Masaka Road

Mpigi — State House has dismissed claims that the severe traffic congestion experienced along the Kampala–Masaka Road earlier this week was caused by road closures linked to President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign activities in the Greater Mpigi area.

Thousands of travelers returning to Kampala from Christmas holidays in western Uganda were caught in gridlock on Monday and Tuesday, with some motorists spending more than 12 hours on a stretch that ordinarily takes about two hours.

Videos and images circulating on social media showed President Museveni seated by the roadside addressing supporters, prompting accusations—particularly from opposition figures—that the road had been blocked by the Special Forces Command (SFC) to facilitate his campaign engagements.

Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, strongly criticized the situation, alleging that the President’s campaign activities caused widespread inconvenience to the public, including travelers transporting patients to health facilities.

However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, State House rejected the claims, describing them as false and misleading.

“For clarity, very limited and time-bound road closures during presidential movements are standard operating procedures world over and are carefully coordinated to minimize disruption,” the statement read. “In this instance, several other factors significantly contributed to the congestion.”

According to State House, the traffic jam was largely caused by heavy end-of-month and post-Christmas traffic, poor road discipline by some motorists who created illegal lanes, and a heavy downpour that reduced visibility and forced some drivers to temporarily stop.

The statement also noted that similar overnight traffic delays were recorded along the same route during the same period last year, when there were no presidential campaign activities in the area.

“It is therefore incorrect to politicize and wrongly attribute this unfortunate event,” State House said.

The explanation was echoed by Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura, who also absolved the President of responsibility for the gridlock.

“It is not true that the President of Uganda had any connection with the traffic jam in Mpigi along the Masaka–Kampala highway,” Kananura said.

He attributed the congestion to the high volume of vehicles heading toward Kampala, compounded by indiscipline among motorists who blocked lanes meant for oncoming traffic. Kananura further revealed that the situation was worsened by a crash involving a truck and a lorry at Lungala, which temporarily cut off the road, as well as a broken-down trailer near Kamengo.

Kananura said traffic has since been cleared and normal flow restored along the highway