CONTRACTORS CAUTIONED ON SAFETY AND ORDER AT ROAD CONSTRUCTION SITES

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Deputy Executive Director, Benon Kigenyi, has issued a stern caution to road construction contractors urging them to prioritize safety, maintain tidiness at construction sites, and ensure proper utility management.

During an inspection tour of key project roads under the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project (KCRRP), in the Industrial Area on Thursday, Kigenyi, emphasized that merely placing caution tapes around open manholes was insufficient.

He directed contractors to completely seal off open manholes to prevent accidents involving pedestrians and motorists.

“It is not enough to put up warning tapes. Just close the manholes,” Kigenyi said. “People might fall in, and such negligence defeats the purpose of the road improvements.”

Kigenyi further instructed contractors to maintain orderly and clean construction sites, remove construction debris that is blocking access to businesses, and provide safe pedestrian walkways.

“We cannot allow construction activities to paralyze businesses,” he said. “Contractors must clean up, keep the site tidy, and ensure safety for all road users.”

A key part of his directive focused on utility coordination. He urged contractors to provide duct lines for underground cable installations. This, he noted, would enable telecom and other utility companies to run their infrastructure underground instead of cluttering the city with overhead wires.

“There are far too many hanging cables in the city. It’s unsightly and dangerous,” Kigenyi noted. “Let us use this opportunity to move the wires underground.”

Kigenyi was accompanied on the tour by the Director of Engineering and Technical Services, Eng. Justus Akankwasa, and the Deputy Director for Roads and Drainages, Eng. Maurice Kairania.

The inspection covered roads under Lot III of the KCRRP, including 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, which are currently under rehabilitation to ease traffic congestion and facilitate business operations in the Industrial Area.

KCRRP is a flagship infrastructure program jointly funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Uganda. It aims to upgrade and reconstruct over 70 kilometers of city roads, improve drainage systems to mitigate flooding, and install streetlights to enhance safety.

As construction progresses, KCCA says it remains committed to ensuring quality, safety, and minimal disruption to the lives and livelihoods of Kampala residents. 

By Geofrey Mutegeki Araali

Communication and Media Relations Officer