DEVELOPMENT | HOIMA | ROADS 

HOIMA - Construction of the 7.45km roads, some leading to religious institutions, has commenced in Hoima city, raising hope of changing the face of the new city, improve traffic flow and livelihood to spur economic development.

Construction of the 19 roads, which started last Saturday, is expected to last six months at a cost of sh30b.

Rogers Sentongo, the Uganda National Roads Authority project engineer, said the road works have started, with priority being given to roads leading to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Bujumbura cell, St. Peter’s Cathedral in Duhaga cell and Bwikya mosque.

The roads will be upgraded from gravel to bitumen standards.

By Saturday (April 3, 2021), the contractors were doing bush clearing and common excavation on bridges, removing top soil and relocation of utility lines.

Sentongo said the roads are being funded by the Government after engagement with the city leadership to identify the critical roads.

However, works on roads leading to worship centres were a pledge by President Yoweri Museveni during the consecration of Hoima Catholic Diocese Bishop Vincent Kirabo on February 28, 2016.

This was after the outgoing Hoima city mayor, Mary Grace Mugasa, requested the  President to work on the roads.

City engineer Bonaventure Kiiza said the road works were supposed to have started in January but delayed due to relocation of utility lines.

Kiiza said utility companies — Umeme and National Water and Sewerage Corporation —  wanted to use their own prequalified companies to do the work.

The project is expected to create over 80 jobs. The roads, once complete, will add on the already 10km paved roads under the World Bank-funded Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development project.

These will connect the town to the oil mining areas via the neatly paved 92km Hoima- Kaiso-Tonya road, which leads to the industrial park in Buseruka sub-county. This is where an international airport is and a proposed oil refinery are under construction.

Cleanliness 

Ramathan Twaha, the chairperson for Kiganda cell, who also runs a shop, said the roads will reduce the dust in the town, hence promote cleanliness.

His shop is located on the road leading to Bujumbura Cathedral and a few metres from Bigajuka bridge, where excavation works are going on.

Twaha said clouds of dust engulf shops and streets each time a motorist passes by.