Why Uganda authorities will close roads for Museveni's birthday

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni during an interview with KTN News. [UPPS]

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has held a celebration event ahead of his September 15 birthday.

In preparation for the birthday, a group of youth led by the National Coordinator in the Office of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party organised a celebration day ahead of the next week's event.

The celebration took place at Kololo Independence grounds in Kampala, security officers announced that several roads would be closed in the country's capital, Kampala due to the large number of guests expected.

"We are expecting around 100, 000 guests who will be coming from different parts of the country. We appeal to the guest public to be vigilant but also follow the traffic guidelines we have temporary disruptions to traffic flow," Godwin Arinaitwe, Kampala Metropolitan Traffic Police Commander told journalists.

He said that the commuters will experience temporary disruption due to the large number of visitors expected at the event.

The commander listed the roads where users will be affected saying that there will be normal traffic flow at Golf Course traffic lights towards Acacia Avenue.

Additionally, motorists will not be allowed to access a diversion around Upper Kololo Terrace, Elgon Terrace, and Lower Kololo Terrace as it is preserved for VVIPs.

He urged road users planning to use Bombo Road to seek alternative routes along Old Kira Road, Lugogo Bypass, and park at KCCA grounds behind Shoprite while those coming from Jinja to park at the UMA showgrounds.

"If you are coming from Entebbe, you can use Kampala Road, Jinja Road traffic lights, Lugogo bypass, and park at KCCA grounds. Those coming from Nansana can use Yusuf Lule Road, Golf Course traffic lights, Nakumatt, Jinja road traffic lights, Wampeewo roundabout, and park at KCCA grounds or UMA show grounds," Arinaitwe added.

Other commuters affected are those planning to use Prince Charles Drive as they have been directed to use Archer Road Junction up to Jinja Road Police Station.

The commander urged road users to follow traffic guidelines and seek alternative routes.

"We appeal to the public to adhere to this traffic flow plan and other guidelines," Arinaitwe said.

The earlier preparations for the birthday celebration started last week when the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Minsa Kabanda and the authority's executive director Dorothy Kisaka led others in cleaning certain streets in the city.