Hundreds of passengers were stranded overnight along the Masaka–Mpigi highway after severe traffic congestion brought movement to a near standstill, particularly in Mpigi town, forcing some travelers to spend the night on the road.
The traffic jam began at around 5:00 p.m. and stretched late into the night, affecting road users traveling from Mpigi to Masaka, Kyebando and surrounding areas.
By morning, many vehicles were still stuck, prompting some passengers to abandon their vehicles and continue their journeys on foot.
Security-related road closures were cited as the main cause of the disruption, as sections of the highway were temporarily blocked to allow President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy to move freely during campaign rallies in Mpigi and Butambala districts.
Among those affected were mourners and traders. One passenger said he was transporting the body of his father for burial in Rakai when he was caught in the gridlock.
“I was traveling to Rakai to bury my father, and I got stuck here with his body. This situation is very painful,” he said.
Another stranded traveler described spending the night in Mpigi town without assistance.
“I reached Mpigi at around 5pm and by midnight I was still stuck here. There was no help at all, and we had to sleep in the vehicle,” the passenger said.
The situation deteriorated further after the presidential convoy passed, when heavy rain fell, creating confusion as drivers attempted to overtake one another on the narrow road.
Vehicles piled up from multiple directions, worsening the congestion. Some passengers likened the scene to “a battlefield.”
Traders transporting agricultural produce and livestock reported losses after failing to reach markets on time due to the prolonged delays.
Traffic police later intervened to manage the situation, opening alternative routes to ease congestion. Motorists traveling to Kampala were advised to use the Kasanje–Nakawuka road, while those heading to Masaka were redirected through the Gomba–Sembabule road.
Traffic Police urged drivers to strictly follow traffic guidelines as efforts continued to restore normal flow on the highway.
Affected road users have appealed to the government to expand and upgrade major highways, arguing that improved infrastructure would help prevent similar incidents in the future.
