Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), with support from the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has officially launched East Africa’s first-ever AI-led traffic control center, a Shs47 billion (about USD 24 million) state-of-the-art facility.
The center aims to reduce travel time, ease congestion, cut vehicle emissions, and modernize Kampala’s transport infrastructure.
Since October 2022, the project involved redesigning city junctions, building more lanes, and installing 256 smart traffic signals at 30 key intersections.
These AI-powered traffic lights use sensors to detect real-time road activity and adjust signal timings automatically to optimize traffic flow.
The technology eliminates the need for traffic officers to manually control traffic at these junctions, reducing human intervention and improving efficiency.
At a control center built at KCCA headquarters, officials can monitor traffic lights, detect congestion, incidents, or equipment faults, and respond immediately.
The system also collects traffic data to inform future planning and enforcement efforts. Although currently using sensors that display traffic flow as dots without identifying vehicles, KCCA plans to upgrade the system by adding cameras for real-time imaging.
Japanese Ambassador to Uganda Takuya Sasayama and JICA Uganda representative Imoue Yoichi highlighted that this investment is part of broader efforts to transform Kampala into a smart city capable of handling rapid urban growth.
The traffic control system is scalable and designed to integrate with future projects to maximize benefits. They urged protection and proper maintenance of the system to avoid vandalism and ensure sustainability.
KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki emphasized that the project marks a major milestone in Kampala’s urban development, enhancing transport safety and environmental goals aligned with Uganda’s national development plan.
The Minister of State for Kampala, Kyofatogabye Kabuye, added that efforts like this support reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving public health. He called for responsible use of the new system by road users to realize its full benefits.
Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago applauded the timely delivery of the project but warned that more work is needed, especially addressing road black spots and investing in multi-modal transport options such as public transport, cycling, and walking.
He stressed the importance of maintaining the system to prevent it from becoming ineffective. Deputy Executive Director Benon Kigenyi noted that the system facilitates real-time traffic monitoring and coordination with police to manage congestion more effectively.
The launch comes as Kampala loses approximately Shs500 million daily to traffic jams, and commuters spend an average of 90 minutes daily stuck in traffic, equivalent to losing one full working day per week.
The new traffic control system is viewed as a crucial step toward reducing this economic and social burden while paving the way for a more liveable and modern Kampala city.
