An evaluation of the capacity to accommodate all forms of traffic on roads upgraded under the USMID project in Lira Municipality, Uganda

Abstract

In an attempt to improve transportation in Lira Municipality, Uganda in collaboration with World Bank embarked on a project of road improvement, especially those roads that were quite significant in the development of this Municipality. Among the areas which were to be worked on were the roads themselves, solid waste management, street lightings, drainage, and aesthetics. All these were aimed at improving the capacity of the selected roads and also improving the conditions of the travelers. It was also meant to include all the road users through designing lanes for all these. However, there is little impact compared to the anticipated benefits the roads were expected to bring.

The project research was carried out to identify the loopholes that still exist even after the upgrading project is complete on some roads. From the research findings, several recommendations were made to improve on the challenges that still exist on these roads.

The study was undertaken using qualitative research design which was able to reproduce quantitative data and the data was collected using interview guides, questionnaire techniques, literature review, archival, observation and surveys and sampling. All stakeholders were consulted during the process of data collection to accomplish this task.

The study unearthed several areas that have incapacitated the road to carry the volume of traffic generated by the land uses within the CBD. All road users are not fully satisfied with the roads in one way or another. Some feel they have been left out in this whole process, while others feel the space provided for them is not enough. This has resulted in conflict for spaces by the road users. Some elements like solid waste management have completely been left out and yet it is a crucial sector that should be handled in every urban setting. Other infrastructure such as drainage and some street lights are already damaged and not functional.

Many recommendations to respective stakeholders have been proposed to better the situation. These include installation of garbage collection bins, planning for Boda stages, designating central parking spaces, repair of damaged drainage channels, etc.