Authorities in Nebbi Municipality have launched a joint enforcement operation with the police to clear heavy trucks and taxis parked along the Nebbi-Pakwach highway and major central business streets, citing severe traffic congestion, safety hazards, and infrastructure damage.
The operation, which commenced on Thursday and extended into Saturday morning, was led by the Nebbi Municipality Mayor, Ms Jackline Opar. The crackdown seeks to restore order in the urban center, where more than 30 heavy vehicles-including fuel tankers bound for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)-frequently park on both sides of the thoroughfare, restricting lanes meant for motorists and pedestrians.
Ms Opar explained on Saturday that while construction of the Shs 16.5 billion hybrid USMID Nebbi Taxi Park and Bus Terminal project is underway, municipal authorities established temporary parking facilities to ease street congestion and curb road accidents within the town center. She noted that law enforcement officers have already served roadside notices and distributed official circulars banning truck parking and loading along key commercial corridors.
The initiative follows a previously issued three-month ultimatum given to taxi operators and truck drivers to vacate public roads. That order had been temporarily suspended after the municipal council delayed in designating alternative parking grounds.
According to Nebbi Municipality Town Clerk Mr Samson Natsambwa, heavy vehicles-including Fuso trucks, Sino-trucks, and long-distance trailers-utilizing road shoulders and reserves must immediately relocate to the designated municipal parking space along Arua Road or to the private parking lot situated on Pakwach Road. He warned that enforcement teams working alongside police will impound any heavy vehicle found violating the directive.
The crackdown covers key transit arteries including Arua Road, Paidha Road, the Nebbi-Pakwach highway, and precincts around the central market, where upwards of 30 taxis and 50 heavy trucks park on road margins daily. Local councilors pushed for the eviction following mounting complaints from residents that heavy transit trucks were breaking newly installed drainage channels and causing severe road blockages, particularly at night.
Mr Alfred Okwairwoth, the councilor representing Nyarwodho Ward, noted that while the council currently collects local revenues from these vehicles, providing dedicated parking hubs remains essential to preventing accidents and managing traffic density.
However, the decision has drawn mixed reactions from affected stakeholders. Heavy truck drivers cautioned municipal leaders that pushing transit operators out of commercial zones could jeopardize local council collections. Mr Allan Mugenyi, a Fuso driver who transports produce from Mbale through Nebbi to Paidha and Arua City, argued that drivers pay a fee of Shs 10,000 per parking session, warning that a strict ban without adequate roadside facilities could force drivers to bypass the town entirely.
Similarly, local traders expressed concern over potential financial fallout. Ms Gloria Alifua, a representative from the Association of Food Handlers, remarked that while members support general urban planning efforts, moving the trucks away from main thoroughfares will significantly drop sales for roadside food vendors who rely directly on long-distance drivers for their daily livelihood.
Despite these concerns, municipal officials maintain that roadside parking will no longer be tolerated, urging all freight handlers and long-distance operators to utilize the newly gazetted temporary lorry parks as permanent infrastructure development continues.