Highway Corruption by Uganda Traffic Police Officers: A Passenger’s Account

Personal Account of Bribery

On May 24th, 2024, while traveling from Kasambya in the Mubende district to Kampala, I witnessed disturbing behavior from traffic officers of the Uganda Police Force. The taxi I was in was stopped eight times by different traffic officers at eight separate locations.

Each time the taxi was flagged down, the driver would stop, park, and get out to ‘speak’ with the officer at the back of the vehicle. As a passenger in the front seat, I could not hear their conversation.

First Stop at Katabalanga

The first stop was at Katabalanga in Mubende District. I initially thought this was a routine check for the vehicle’s roadworthiness and the driver’s qualifications.

Repeated Stops Raise Concerns

To my shock, this same process was repeated seven more times between Mubende and Kampala. The second stop, at Kalamba (Mu Kiganda) in Mubende District, followed the same pattern: the driver stopped, parked, got out, and talked with the officer at the back of the vehicle.

Driver’s Explanation

I grew worried after the second stop, wondering if the vehicle was in poor condition and if my safety was at risk. Curious, I asked the driver what was happening. The driver responded by asking if I was Ugandan. To sum it up, we were stopped eight times at these points from Mubende to Kampala:

• Katabalanga, Mubende District
• Kalamba (Mu Kiganda), Mubende District
• Mpamujugu, Mityana District
• Wabigalo (Ku Kiggwa), Mityana District
• Jeeza, Mpigi District
• Bujjuko, Mpigi District
• Buloba, Wakiso District
• Bulenga, Wakiso District

Bribery Revealed

The driver informed me that at each stop, he had to pay 5,000 shillings to the traffic officer. This added up to 40,000 shillings for the one-way trip from Kasambya to Kampala, and he would have to pay the same amount on the return trip.

Common Practice Among Drivers

According to the driver, these stops are well-known, and he always has to pay 5,000 shillings to each traffic officer. Sometimes, mobile traffic officers (aba’kamotoka) make unexpected stops, demanding bribes as well.

Everyday Reality for Taxi Drivers

When I asked why this was happening, the driver explained that this is the daily reality for taxi drivers in Uganda. Whether or not a traffic offense is committed or the vehicle is in good condition, drivers are expected to pay bribes to avoid being blacklisted or fined by the traffic officers.

Calling Out Corruption

At the Buloba stop, frustrated with the ongoing bribery, I called out to the officer, asking her to have some shame. My plea was ignored, and she pocketed the 5,000 shillings.

Impact on Road Safety

Traffic officers are supposed to ensure road safety by preventing improper road use and unqualified drivers. Instead, they have turned their duty into a money-making scheme. This corruption is widespread across Uganda’s highways, involving many officers in the Uganda Police Force. Surprisingly, both drivers and passengers seem to accept this behavior.

Questions Raised

This situation raises several important questions:

1. Do we need social media campaigns to expose the rampant corruption among traffic police for the Uganda Police Force to take action?
2. Have we accepted blatant corruption regardless of its impact on road users?
3. Can we reduce road accidents and fatalities with bribe-taking traffic officers?
4. What is the role of passengers in fighting this corruption? Are there laws and policies to encourage passengers to act?

Call to Action

It is our duty as road users, both drivers and passengers, to call out this corruption and work to end it. I hope my story reaches the responsible public servants who enforce traffic laws and regulations, prompting positive change.