Police Issue Traffic Guidelines for Martyrs Day Celebrations

Kampala Metropolitan Area traffic commander, Godwin Arinaitwe, has issued traffic guidelines ahead of the Martyrs Day celebrations on Monday. The annual celebration of the Catholic martyrs, which climaxes with prayers on June 3, attracts over 50,000 pilgrims in Namugongo, Wakiso District, contributing to a traffic gridlock.

By press time, over 5,000 pilgrims from various Catholic dioceses in and around Uganda had already arrived at the Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo.

According to the police, the guidelines will be enforced by its officers from June 2 to June 3. Kampala-Jinja Highway will have normal traffic flow on Martyrs Day. The road from Kireka off Jinja Road to Kyaliwajjala will be reserved for very important people (VIPs). The VIPs coming from the city centre will access Kireka-Kyaliwajjala via Ssemambo Road and park at Namugongongo Boarding Primary School.

Similarly, VVIPs with cars bearing red stickers will use Kireka-Kyaliwajjala Road and enter the main gate of the Catholic Shrine on the left side. Additionally, police have reserved the stretch from Kyaliwajjala to the Anglican Shrine for only pedestrians.

“For VIPs and VVIPs coming from the city centre from the stretch of Jinja side, they will use Bweyogerere-Buto-Kyobe Road and get their parking at church for the sake of Anglicans. Additionally, foreign pilgrims with vehicles bearing blue stickers will be dropped off at the Kyaliwajjala trading centre, and vehicles will park at Vienna College School.” – Mr Arinaitwe.

“Medical service vehicles will bear green stickers, and these should be clearly displayed for ease of identification. · Service providers for the Basilica/Catholic Church bearing Purple Stickers will access the venue through St. Kizito Lwanga Road at the Namugongo Police Station entrance. These are advised to be at the venue in good time starting from midnight on June 3, 2024.” – Mr Arinaitwe.

Mr Arinaitwe warned that no service vehicles would be allowed to access the venue after midnight. Residents of Namugongo, Ssonde, Kireka, Kyaliwajjala, Bweyogerere, and surrounding areas should expect regulated access to roads. Motor vehicles and motorcycles without appropriate stickers will not be allowed beyond the cut-off points.