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JINJA

Investors in Jinja city have raised concern over the poor state of roads, saying they affect the smooth running of activities, which leads to an increase in the cost of production.

During a stakeholders meeting at Jinja City Hall on May 17, 2024, representatives of affected industries said it was becoming increasingly difficult and costly to ferry in raw materials or transport finished goods to the market due to the potholed roads.

They particularly cited the Walukuba-Masese road, an 8-kilometer road running from Engineer Zikusooka Way through the industrial area to Masese.

The road serves as a link for more than 10 factories including BIDCO Uganda Ltd, MMI Steel, Nile Agro Industries, Steel Rolling Mills, East African Steel Corporation, Kengrow, Makepasi and Busoga Forestry Company, among others to the city’s central business district and the Kampala-Jinja-Malaba highway.

The meeting chaired by Jinja City Council speaker Bernard Mbayo was organised by the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) following a petition by industrialists/manufacturers.

It was attended among others by the UMA executive director Dr Ezra Muhumuza, Jinja city engineer David Ereemye, former lands minister Daudi Migereko and Jinja city deputy town clerk Peter Mawerere.

Multiplier effect of good roads

Mubarak Kirunda Nkuutu, the UMA director for business development, noted the need to prioritise roads construction and maintenance within industrial zones, arguing that it has a multiplier effect.

He added that the failure to improve the road network, frustrates investors plans as they spend a lot of resources on transportation of raw materials and goods, leading to reduction in production and loss of employment opportunities.

“Jinja has always been an industrial hub in Uganda and the entire East African region. However, due to some factors a number of industries collapsed and Jinja became a ghost town. Now that industries are coming up again, everything possible must be done not to frustrate them,” he noted.

“These investors pay a lot in taxes and create employment for our people so we need, as leaders to create for them a conducive working environment through provision of good roads, water and electricity,” he said, noting that investors were willing to contribute towards the roads maintenance.

Funding challenges

Mawerere blamed the situation on inadequate finances revealing that the road had been prioritized under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) funding but unfortunately the programme was phased out last year.

He further revealed that reconstruction of the entire 8 kilometer stretch to the required standards needs not less than sh36b.

The meeting constituted a committee comprising representatives of the manufacturers, city leaders, UMA, among others to petition relevant bodies including government over the state of the road.

When New Vision Online visited industrial area on Friday, certain sections of the road were badly damaged with large potholes filled with water, making it difficult for motorists and cyclists to cross.

Richard Maganda, a bodaboda rider, who operates in Masese, said due to its poor state, their bikes break down often.

“I have to take my motorcycle to the mechanic regularly because of these potholes, meaning they (potholes) reduce my profits,” he said.

Another resident said road crashes are common on the road, especially involving trucks ferrying goods and that on some occasions, lives have been lost.