UNRA to upgrade Luwero - Nakaseke road

The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) is seeking parliamentary approval of a USD40m loan to tarmac the 29 kilometer Luweero-Butalangu road which links Luwero to neighbouring Nakaseke District.

The upgrading of the hitherto gravel road will improve connectivity and spur economic growth in the region, UNRA officials said after a meeting with members of the parliamentary committee on economy in Luweero, Friday.

The committee which was headed by Nakaseke South MP, Syda Bumba was on a fact finding tour of the proposed project site prior to approving the loan.

The UNRA highway specialist, Moses Ochole said preparations of detailed engineering design and bidding documents had been completed and prayed to parliament to approve the loan.

Ochole said the proposed project will be a class A road with a 20-year design life with pavement surfacing.

He said half of the required loan will be from the Arab Bank for Economic development in Africa (BADEA) while another half will come from the Opec Fund for International Development (OFID).  

Giving a breakdown of the cost, Ochole said a total of 21 billion will be required to compensate affected people in 24 villages in Luwero and Nakaseke.

He said a total of 131.29 hectares of land will be acquired and the compensation money to be given to the owners will be contributed  by the Uganda government.

He said the project would be completed in a period of two years.