The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Military Police Brigade has deployed joint checkpoints with the Uganda Police Force across the Kampala Metropolitan Area in an operation aimed at restoring discipline on the roads and enforcing compliance with traffic regulations.
According to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, the enforcement exercise began on Monday, March 9, and will continue for an unspecified period as authorities seek to address traffic-related offenses and criminal activities involving motorists.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Col. Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, said the operation is being conducted by the UPDF Military Police in collaboration with the Uganda Police Traffic Directorate.
“The UPDF Military Police Brigade, working with the Uganda Police Force, have embarked on an operation to restore sanity on Ugandan roads, ensure full compliance with traffic regulations by all motorists, impound unregistered or numberless vehicles, and curb the illegal use of sirens, among other measures,” Magezi said.
Authorities say the operation targets a range of road safety and compliance issues, including vehicles operating without registration plates, unauthorized use of sirens, and motorists who disregard traffic laws.
Magezi dismissed claims circulating on social media suggesting that the sudden appearance of military-police checkpoints was intended to intercept opposition figure Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine.
“This is therefore to dismiss the insinuations from some quarters that the snap checkpoints mounted by the Military and Uganda Police traffic corps is an effort to apprehend NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine),” Magezi said.
“No one is looking for or interested in the NUP leader. The aim of the police forces is to restore discipline, total observance of traffic regulations, and curtail criminal activities by some motorists on the roads,” he added.
Officials emphasized that such enforcement campaigns are not unprecedented and have been used in previous years to address rising traffic violations and lawlessness on the roads.
“Besides, the enforcement measures are not new and have been employed in the past to achieve similar objectives,” Magezi said.
Motorists and motorcycle riders operating within the Kampala Metropolitan Area have been urged to cooperate with officers deployed at the checkpoints.
“Motorists, including motorcyclists, are urged to cooperate and comply with the Military Police and Uganda Traffic Police directives for the common good,” Magezi said.
The Kampala Metropolitan Area has recently experienced an increase in concerns about reckless driving, misuse of government-style sirens by private motorists, and vehicles operating without proper registration—issues authorities say the ongoing operation seeks to address.