KAMPALA, UGANDA – The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has officially launched a state-of-the-art Traffic Control Center (TCC), a UGX 47 billion facility designed to revolutionize traffic management and ease the city’s notorious congestion. The project, funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is the first of its kind in East Africa and represents a major step in Kampala’s journey to becoming a “smart city.”
The TCC, located at City Hall, is a modern nerve center that will monitor and manage traffic in real-time. It is linked to 30 key intersections across the city, equipped with smart traffic lights that can adjust signal timings based on real-time traffic flow. The system is set to significantly reduce travel time, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve road safety.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, State Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Hon. Kabuye Kyofatogabye, hailed the project as a practical solution to urban mobility challenges. He noted that the center would support government programs on mass transportation and enhance the quality of life for city residents. Similarly, the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Takuya Sasayama, described the facility as a timely intervention for a city grappling with complex urban problems.
KCCA Executive Director, Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, highlighted that the TCC is more than just a building; it is a critical piece of technology that will serve not only KCCA but also the Uganda Police Force, traffic managers, and researchers. She added that the authority plans to expand the system’s coverage and eventually integrate artificial intelligence for predictive traffic management.
The project, which began in 2022 and took 30 months to complete, is a model of international cooperation. JICA’s representative, Yoichi Inoue, emphasized the resilience required to complete the project amid the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed hope that future urban development initiatives will be integrated with the TCC to maximize its impact. Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago praised the project as a “monument on Kampala’s skyline,” but also called for continued investment in a mass transit system to fully address the city’s transport challenges. The new TCC marks a new era for Kampala, shifting from manual to technology-driven traffic control, a move that is expected to save millions of hours lost annually to gridlock.
Kampala Traffic Control Center Commissioned to Manage Congestion in Real Time This video provides a visual overview of the newly launched Kampala Traffic Control Center and its functions.
