MUSEVENI DIRECTS MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO RELEASE SH6BN FOR POTHOLE REPAIRS

President Yoweri Museveni has instructed the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to immediately disburse Shs6bn to the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) for the urgent repair of potholes and general road maintenance. 

The directive came during the launch of the Trade Frontier Fund at State House Entebbe, where Museveni also updated the public on the 41 roads under the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project (KCRRP) being worked on with funding from the African Development Bank.

Museveni informed the people of Kampala that the construction works for these roads will continue for the next 4 years to improve road transport in the city.
The announcement has brought relief to Kampala residents who have been concerned about damaged roads. The President urged KCCA to give monthly updates on the cleanup, repair, and maintenance of roads in the city.

While appearing on Radio One’s Spectrum Talk show, the Executive Director of KCCA, Dorothy Kisaka, said the authority was ready to quickly fix the potholes as soon as the money is released. The funds would be sourced from the Uganda Road Fund, but only roads outside the AfDB project would be handled.

Kisaka also highlighted some beautiful roads in Kampala without potholes, such as Lukuli Road, Ntinda Stretcher, Kulambiro ring road, Kabusu-Bunamwaya-Lweza, and John Babiha Road, among others which the people of Kampala should pride in. She also mentioned the Luwum Street, which had previously been inaccessible due to congestion but had now been improved as part of KCCA's efforts to enhance road infrastructure in the city.

She acknowledged that it takes significant funds to maintain and repair roads and commended the president for his directive.
KCRRP roads have already commenced with works on Old Mubende and Kabega road ongoing while on the rest of the roads contractors are relocating utility lines and doing forward maintainance.

Despite political and technical disagreements at City Hall, Kisaka said the relationship was healthy as long as it did not hinder work or affect service delivery.

Joshua Mawerere, the Chairman of Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) Youth League, commended the President's directive and called for a good working relationship between KCCA and other stakeholders as the roads are repaired.

“I'm happy to hear that the president has ordered the release of funds to KCCA and I want to say congratulations to the ED. As a road users we want to see the roads usable. KCCA should urgently address the poor roads in the city,” Mawerere said. 

The KCRRP is a $288 million project f aims to rehabilitate key roads across Kampala. The ambitious project covers over 70 kilometers of roads and involves the reconstruction of at least 41 roads in the city. In addition to the road upgrades, the KCRRP also includes the construction of 30 public toilets, 123 km of walkways, and covered drainage. The project also involves the upgrading of 22 junctions, the construction of six roadside markets, the installation of 1,600 street lights, and landscaping works.