The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has clarified that the ongoing deployment of Military Police checkpoints across the Kampala Metropolitan Area is aimed at enforcing traffic regulations and restoring order on the roads.
In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, the Acting Defence and Military Spokesperson, Colonel Chris Magezi, said the operation is being carried out jointly by the UPDF Military Police Brigade and the Uganda Police Force.
According to Magezi, the operation began on Monday, March 9, 2026, and will continue for as long as necessary to ensure motorists comply with traffic laws.
“The UPDF Military Police Brigade, working with the Uganda Police Force, have embarked on an operation to restore sanity on Ugandan roads and ensure full compliance with traffic regulations by all motorists,” Magezi said.
He explained that the enforcement exercise is targeting several traffic offences that have become common on Kampala roads. These include the use of unregistered or numberless vehicles and the illegal use of sirens.
“The operation is intended to impound unregistered or numberless vehicles and curb the illegal use of sirens, among other measures,” Magezi added.
Magezi also dismissed claims circulating on social media that the checkpoints were set up to arrest National Unity Platform leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
“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 the NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. No one is looking for or interested in the NUP leader,” he said.
He noted that similar operations have previously been conducted to improve road safety and maintain public order in the city.
“The enforcement measures are not new and have been employed in the past to achieve similar objectives,” Magezi said.
Authorities have urged motorists and motorcyclists to cooperate with the security agencies as the operation continues.
“Motorists, including motorcyclists, are urged to cooperate and comply with the Military Police and Uganda Traffic Police directives for the common good,” Magezi emphasized.
The joint enforcement exercise comes at a time of growing concern about traffic indiscipline and road safety on major roads within the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
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