State House has dismissed claims that President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy caused the heavy traffic congestion along the Kampala–Masaka Road, describing the allegations as inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, officials said limited, time-bound road closures during presidential movements are standard practice worldwide and are carefully coordinated to minimise disruption to motorists.
According to State House, the gridlock was mainly caused by heavy end-of-month traffic as motorists returned from upcountry holidays, poor road discipline by some drivers and a downpour that reduced visibility and forced some vehicles to stop temporarily.
“Significant overnight delays occurred at the same time last year, when there were no presidential campaigns in districts along the route,” the statement said, urging the public not to politicise the incident.
Motorists were also advised to exercise patience and responsible road use during periods of heavy traffic and adverse weather.
The Ministry of Works and Transport similarly rejected claims that presidential activities caused the congestion along the highway.
Minister of Works Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala said the President has consistently adhered to established protocols, holding all public engagements and rallies at designated venues.
“The severe traffic congestion experienced on December 29 and 30, 2025, along this section was not caused by any road closures to facilitate political activity by H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, as has been inaccurately portrayed in the online space. We therefore categorically dismiss these claims,” Katumba said.
Traffic assessments, he added, showed that the congestion was largely caused by motorist indiscipline, including blocking intersections, encroaching into oncoming lanes and obstructing right of way at major choke points in Mpigi.
The Police Traffic Directorate deployed aerial surveillance and ground officers to clear bottlenecks, with authorities saying traffic flow was steadily improving.
“Orderly driving and respect for traffic rules will ease congestion during the remaining festive days,” Katumba said, urging motorists to comply with traffic officers’ instructions and maintain lane discipline.
Prolonged congestion on Tuesday left thousands of motorists stranded for hours between Mpigi and Kamengo, turning a journey that normally takes about two hours into an ordeal that stretched deep into the night.
The situation was worsened by a mechanical breakdown of a truck and a collision involving a lorry at Lungala, as well as a broken-down trailer near Kamengo.
Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, blamed the traffic jam on disruptions caused by presidential campaign activities, claiming some motorists spent up to 20 hours on the road.
He raised concerns about patients and emergency cases affected by the congestion and described the incident as a failure of leadership.
Traffic police spokesperson Michael Kananura dismissed the claims, attributing the gridlock to high traffic volumes from Masaka toward Kampala and widespread motorist indiscipline.
“This gridlock was caused by the high volume of traffic. They created illegal and extra lanes and blocked vehicles traveling in the opposite direction toward Masaka from Mpigi,” Kananura said.
Authorities said traffic was expected to normalise fully once stalled vehicles were cleared and diversions implemented.
Motorists were diverted to alternative routes, including Kasanje–Nakawuka for those heading to Kampala and Gomba–Sembabule for travelers to Masaka, with police urging drivers to follow instructions to ensure safety and smoother traffic flow.
