By eastafrican gazette
In Uganda, the lack of a well-connected road network over years has been a significant obstacle to development, particularly in linking rural areas to major urban centers where the majority of goods and services are required.
However, in recent years, various districts in the country have experienced growth and progress as a result of the government’s deliberate enhancements made to the road infrastructure.
The enhanced infrastructure has facilitated the swift transportation of diverse raw materials, food, and trade goods among others, leading to job creation for rural farmers, enhanced household incomes, and further economic progress.
Not only has this enhanced internal progress, but it has also facilitated the transition between countries, thereby facilitating the movement of goods and services to neighboring nations.
Boosting district road equipment
The Ugandan government remains committed to enhancing the nation’s road infrastructure by supplying road maintenance equipment to different districts.
On May 15, 2024, the government allocated road maintenance equipment comprising a motor grader and a wheel loader, valued at shs59 billion to the 14 newly established districts to enhance their connectivity.
The equipment will be utilized for the purpose of preserving and expanding the road networks in the districts. It will also help open up road networks in the some of the hard-to-reach areas in the districts.
The districts include: Bugweri, Kalaki, Kapelabyong, Kalenga, Kassanda, Kitagwenda, Kazo, Kwania, Kikuube, Madi-Okollo, Nabilatuk, Obongi, Rwampara, and Terego.
While flagging off the machinery, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja emphasized the importance of the project, highlighting that the government’s choice to acquire new road units for the recently established districts was a direct reaction to the difficulties experienced by the different areas in obtaining essential equipment.
“The provision of new road equipment to the new districts is therefore a welcome gesture by the government, which will improve both inter- and intra-city connectivity within the districts,” she noted.
She further stressed the government’s commitment to equitable development and inclusive growth in all parts of the country.
Nabbanja observed that in June 2012, there was a policy shift by the government to transition from outsourcing road maintenance projects in local governments to employing direct labor through a force account approach.
This strategic decision, along with President Museveni’s directive in 2014 to enhance the equipment capacity of all districts, has facilitated the ongoing implementation of road units.
Gen. Katumba Wamala, the Minister for Works and Transport, recognized the challenges encountered by the government.
He mentioned that despite all districts previously receiving a full set of road units, the 14 recently established districts have only been provided with a motor grader and a wheel loader due to financial constraints.
The minister has given assurance that the government will ensure the full set of equipment for these districts is completed promptly once extra funding is secured.
Dan Kimosho, the chairperson of parliament’s physical infrastructure committee, conveyed his appreciation for the government’s steadfast dedication to developing infrastructure in the last ten years.
He went to recognize the president’s emphasis on infrastructure, ranking it among the country’s top three sectors.
He said the commitment has produced concrete outcomes, such as the much-awaited provision of road equipment to the newly established districts.
Overseeing usage
To oversee the equipment’s usage, the Ministry of Works and Transport has established a monitoring dashboard, ensuring any instances of misuse will be met with severe repercussions.
Furthermore, every Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the ministry, committing to follow the prescribed guidelines for the proper use and maintenance of the equipment.
Uganda’s road network growth
Uganda’s road network has improved significantly arising from the increased funding and the road sector reforms of the 1990s compared to the pre-1986 situation when majority of the roads were impassable.
Before independence, when the country was still under the British Colonial rule, a total of 692km of roads were upgraded to bituminous standards with the last roads to be constructed just before independence (completed in 1961) being the Tororo – Mbale-Soroti, Iganga – Kaliro and Jinja-Kamuli Roads.
However, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) indicates that a total of 1,175kms of new roads were constructed averaging 49km of roads constructed per year during the post-independence period between 1962 and 1986.
Since 1986, however, a total of 4,793km of new paved/tarmac roads have been constructed and a total of 1,924km of existing dilapidated paved roads reconstructed (this is because paved roads last on average for 15years).
In total the government has tarmacked a total of 8,588km of roads which translates to an average of 252km of paved roads per year.
Leave a Reply