Mpondwe Border Congestion Persists Despite New Truck Parking Yard

What the report says

Heavy truck congestion is still affecting the Mpondwe border highway in Kasese District, Uganda, even after a designated parking yard was opened in Isango Sub-county to relieve pressure at the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo crossing. According to Nile Post, many lorries bound for the DRC are being parked along both sides of the road, restricting traffic flow and creating safety concerns for motorists, traders and residents who use the route daily.

Local authorities say the main challenge is that the available parking space is not large enough for the volume of trucks passing through the busy border point. Kasese District LCV Chairperson Eriphazi Muhindi said the district still needs more parking capacity and is exploring possible partnerships to secure additional land near the border area. His comments suggest officials are looking for a longer-term fix beyond the current yard.

Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town Council officials, including Town Clerk Enos Masereka, said congestion is also worsened when trucks leave parking areas before completing customs clearance, then return to the highway to wait for further processing. Clearing agents interviewed by the publisher added that delays on the Congolese side of the border are contributing to the buildup. The issue matters because it affects movement, local business access and revenue collection, while underscoring the need for closer coordination between Ugandan and Congolese border authorities.