TIME AND TRAFFIC SURVEY REPORT – MIRAMA/KAGITUMBA BORDER AND NTUNGAMO JUNCTION – MBARARA – KABALE ROAD [FINAL REPORT] Consultant: Lillian Muhebwa P. O. Box 27808 Kampala EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report presents the findings from the time and traffic survey undertaken in May 2012 at the Mirama-Kagitumba border crossing as well as results of the traffic and route preference survey at the Ntungamo junction on Mbarara-Kabale road. Mirama-Kagitumba border is one of the two main transit points connecting Uganda and Rwanda with the border towns located in southwestern Uganda and Nyagatare district, Eastern Province of Rwanda respectively. The study sought to establish the queuing time and time taken to clear commercial trucks at the border crossing, baseline traffic volume statistics, preferred routes travelled by traffic at the border as well as the anticipated increase in traffic due to upgrading of the Ntungamo-Mirama road. The Mirama-Kagitumba border crossing had a total traffic of 408 vehicles during the survey week, most of which was from the Kagitumba side. Traffic at this border is mainly day time traffic corresponding to the operational hours of the customs offices. Total traffic inward from Mirama was 115 vehicles predominantly of the commercial traffic category. Inward traffic at Kagitumba was recorded as 193 vehicles with passenger vehicles making up 67% of this traffic. Preferred travel routes are intercity, that is connecting Kampala and Kigali which are the main commercial hubs for the two countries Relatively short queue times (three to thirty seven minutes) were experienced for traffic arriving during border operation hours given the low daily commercial vehicle traffic averaging about ten vehicles on either side. Queues are generally shorter on the Kagitumba side, hardly exceeding 15 minutes. However, the low traffic volumes do not present any urgency on transporters to start the clearing process; otherwise these queue times would be lower. The average customs processing time for trucks from Mirama entering into Rwanda was three hours fifty one minutes and that from Kagitumba, one hour thirty two minutes. The longer processing times for traffic from Mirama can be attributed to more import traffic into Rwanda as compared to Uganda in addition to non-readiness of transporters to clear with customs. The Ntungamo-Kabale junction on Mbarara-Kabale road receives significant day time traffic volumes with 5271 vehicles recorded during the survey week. This is equivalent to 753 vehicles per day out of which 34% is commercial traffic - as defined for this survey. The Origin-destination survey indicated that 40% of this traffic (439 vehicles) passes the Katuna border with Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) above 8T contributing 41% of this traffic, 32% trailer trucks, 14% fuel tankers and light trucks and coaches contribute 8% and 5% respectively. Results of the route preference surveys for traffic bound for Katuna indicated that at least 24% of this traffic would be diverted to the Mirama route if upgraded. This corresponds to almost three times the current commercial traffic volume handled at the border requiring improved infrastructure and high efficiency levels of border operations in order to contribute to the realization of benefits from improved trade competitiveness in the East Africa region. 1 | P a g e Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. 1 ACRONYMS AND KEY DEFINITIONS .......................................................................................................... 3 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................ 4 2 COMPONENT 1: TIME SURVEY ......................................................................................................... 7 2.1 OBJECTIVE ................................................................................................................................ 7 2.2 METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 SURVEY RESULTS ...................................................................................................................... 9 2.3.1 Time survey at Mirama Hills.............................................................................................. 9 2.3.2 Time survey at Kagitumba .............................................................................................. 12 3 COMPONENT 2: TRAFFIC SURVEY................................................................................................... 15 3.1 OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................ 16 3.2 METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................... 16 3.3 SURVEY RESULTS .................................................................................................................... 16 3.3.1 Mirama Hills Traffic ........................................................................................................ 16 3.3.2 Kagitumba Traffic ........................................................................................................... 20 3.3.3 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 23 4 COMPONENT 3: TRAFFIC SURVEY AT NTUNGAMO JUNCTION ........................................................ 25 4.1 OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................ 25 4.2 METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................... 25 4.3 SURVEY RESULTS .................................................................................................................... 25 4.3.1 Traffic analysis ................................................................................................................ 25 4.3.2 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 33 Annex I: Data collection forms ............................................................................................................... 34 Annex II: Traffic Volume – Mirama Hills .................................................................................................. 36 Annex II: Traffic Volume – Mirama Hills .................................................................................................. 36 Annex III: Traffic Volume – Kagitumba .................................................................................................... 37 Annex IV: record of vehicles at day start – Mirama/Kagitumba ............................................................... 38 Annex V: Commercial Traffic Origin-Destination – Ntungamo junction ................................................... 39 2 | P a g e ACRONYMS AND KEY DEFINITIONS CCA – Customs clearing Area HGV – Heavy Goods vehicle OSBP – One stop Border Posts RRA - Rwanda Revenue Authority TMEA – Trade Mark East Africa TOR – Terms of Reference URA – Uganda Revenue Authority 3 | P a g e 1 INTRODUCTION This report presents the findings of the traffic survey conducted at the Mirama/Kagitumba border crossing between Uganda and Rwanda, in their respective districts of Ntungamo and Nyagatare. The study was commissioned by Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) as part of planning, and monitoring and evaluation of its projects in particular the one-stop border post (OSBP) project aimed at reducing transport and related costs along the key transport corridors in East Africa. 1.1 ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVES This study was aimed at obtaining baseline traffic statistics and in accordance with the assignment TOR comprised three key components as described hereafter. Components 1 and 2 relate to the time and traffic study at the Mirama Hills/Kagitumba border and component three relates to the traffic study at Ntungamo. The study components are detailed below: a) Component 1: Traffic Queuing and Clearance Time Study This involved carrying out a traffic study to find out the queuing time and time taken to clear commercial trucks at the border crossing. b) Component 2: Traffic Volume Study at Mirama Hills/Kagitumba border This involved carrying out a traffic study to determine the number of vehicles passing through the border post and Origin and Destination Studies to determine the amount of travel existing between various locations and determine the routes along which traffic prefers to travel. The traffic study would then be used to estimate the ultimate volume at the end of the design period [of 20 years] c) Study 3: Traffic Volume Study at Ntungamo Junction on the Mbarara-Kabale Road This involved carrying out the traffic study to determine the current traffic flow from Uganda at the Ntungamo junction towards the Katuna border, as well as the anticipated increase in traffic due to upgrading works on the Ntungamo-Mirama road. In addition an Origin and Destination study to determine the amount of traffic destined for the Katuna border was undertaken. This was anticipated