Drivers in Uganda are increasingly caught in a frustrating and costly dilemma at traffic light intersections where automated traffic cameras and human traffic officers give conflicting instructions.
While the Uganda Traffic Act clearly states that the direction of a traffic officer overrides traffic lights, motorists report receiving fines from the automated system despite obeying officers' commands on the ground.
Section 35(1) of the Uganda Traffic Act (Cap 361) provides clear guidance: "Where a traffic officer gives a direction that is inconsistent with any traffic sign or traffic light, the direction of the officer shall be observed."
Yet, many drivers have found themselves penalized regardless.
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On social media platform X, motorists have shared their experiences with the conflicting enforcement. Bonaventure Saturday expressed the sheer scale of the problem: "Imagine from Kampala to Kisoro, more than 10 cameras each giving you a ticket of Shs600,000 plus surcharge totaling Shs9 million... To and from that will be Shs18 million worth of tickets. So you park the car and buy another one with that money."
Adding to the uncertainty, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Asan Kasingye voiced his own hesitation about obeying traffic officers when their instructions contradict traffic lights.
"Unpopular Opinion 536. I will disobey any traffic officer who signals me to drive or stop at traffic lights junctions unless the traffic lights aren't working.
"If I am told to drive on when red, I will disobey. If I am told to stop when green, I will disobey. I don't know whether the automatic violation mechanism won't send me a penalty of Shs600,000 if I obeyed the personal intuition of the officer."
Individual motorists like Eryq recount frustrating personal experiences.
"I received a ticket in a funny way. The lights were red but the traffic officer was calling the cars in that same direction," the user said.
"Few hours later, I received a ticket in my mail. How do I get justice? In fact, the traffic officer was telling us to drive quickly."
Samia Linen was shocked to receive multiple fines in a single day. "I was surprised to receive emails informing me that I had been issued three different Express Penalty tickets--all in one day.
While I understand the importance of enforcing traffic regulations, it's astonishing to be fined Shs1,800,000 or more in such a short time. I feel like parking my car until further notice."
The Ugandan government installed automated cameras to improve road safety, minimize traffic violations, and reduce corruption linked to manual ticketing.
The cameras capture offenses like running red lights and issue Express Penalty tickets, usually with a fine of Shs600,000.
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However, these cameras operate independently of human officers, with no real-time coordination.
This disconnect creates a "double jeopardy" scenario where drivers can obey officers but still be fined by cameras. Legal experts advise motorists to document contradictory instructions and appeal unfair fines through the Uganda Revenue Authority or courts.
Road safety advocates, motorists, and legal professionals call for urgent reforms to synchronize automated enforcement with manual traffic control. Such changes would protect motorists from unjust penalties and restore public confidence in Uganda's traffic management.
Until then, drivers remain caught in a difficult bind--forced to choose between obeying traffic officers or avoiding costly automated fines, threatening their finances and patience alike.
