An investigation into the impact of roadside businesses on the traffic flow in Kampala city : a case study of Katwe road.

Abstract

KatwehasbeenaslumrightfromwhenhumanhabitationstartedtoappearalongtheKampalaKaseserailwaytracksintheearly20thcenturyandhascontinuouslyattractedyoungmenand women,withlittleeducationandpracticalskills,whoingeniouslyimproviseand‘manufacture’ imitationsoforiginalelectronicappliancesandautomobilespareparts,looselycalledMagezi gaBaganda(Wisdom oftheBaganda).Famedforbeingthecentreofcreativity,non-residential useslikecommercial,institutionaletchavegraduallyinvadedtheareaturningitintooneofthe mostsoughtafterfast-growingbusinesscentresinKampalaCitytoday.Katwe’sstrategic locationaladvantage,economicactivitiesandimprovementintransportrouteshaveledtoan increaseintheintensityofnewinformalactivitiesintheareaduetothehighdemandfornew spacestoaccommodatethemandthishasresultedintoaninfluxofvariousmodesoftransport anditsassociatednegativeslikecongestion,pollution,accidentsandcreationofunpleasant environsespeciallyalongKatweRoad.Thehigherthelevelofroadsidebusinesses,thelower thetransportationperformanceoftheroad,hence,thisstudydelvesdeepandinvestigatesthe impactsoftheseroadsidebusinessesontheflowoftrafficalongKatweRoad.