The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has raised concerns about the traffic disruptions caused by police on certain roads within Kampala as the city hosts the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit at Speke Resort Munyonyo. Mr. John Kikonyogo, the FDC spokesperson, criticized the government for not adequately communicating the traffic diversions to the public in a timely manner.
Addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi on January 15, Kikonyogo emphasized that the government had sufficient time to prepare for the NAM conference and should have informed the public about the traffic diversions to avoid inconvenience. He noted that these diversions have led to increased traffic fares as motorists are forced to take longer routes.
As the NAM summit commenced, traffic diversions affected travelers accessing the city, especially those connecting to Entebbe and Munyonyo. The Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety issued guidelines restricting motorcycles on certain routes leading to Speke Resort Munyonyo and announcing potential diversions and disruptions when needed.
Mr. Michael Kananura, the spokesperson of the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, clarified that traffic would be diverted as necessary for the safety of the delegates attending the summit.
The FDC also raised concerns about the closure of small businesses along major routes, suggesting that local businesses should have been allowed to sell their commodities to the summit visitors. Mr. Kikonyogo urged the government to encourage Ugandans to stock items that could be sold to summit visitors, supporting local entrepreneurs and fostering a more inclusive engagement with the international community.
