In 2009, faced with a rapidly growing population and increasing congestion concerns, Kampala began planning a BRT system. BRT serving the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area’s 3 million residents would drastically improve travel times, decrease health risks, and reduce pollution levels.
Since the project’s inception, ITDP has been working with the Ministry of Works and Transport and Kampala Capital City Authority to review infrastructure designs, service plans, and create an institutional structure for the project. ITDP also has partnered with local organisations such as the First African Bicycle Information Organization (FABIO), a local NGO empowering Ugandans using bicycles and other non-motorised transport, to disseminate information about the benefits of BRT to the government and to the public.
With support from UN-Habitat, ITDP worked to develop the first map of Kampala’s informal minibus “taxis.” The map can help to improve wayfinding around the city, assisting visitors, new residents, and even frequent riders with trip planning. Numerous studies have shown that passenger satisfaction is linked to easily knowing how to navigate around a city. The data from the mobility map surveys will be released publicly, providing an opportunity for developers to create online trip planning tools and mobile applications, and for researchers to analyse travel patterns across the city.
