KCCA lauded over KIIDP II road projects

KAMPALA - About five years ago, residents of Bunamuwaya, Lweza and Ngobye, Sseguku Katale used to spend more than two hours on the road.

This is not the only road that faced challenges; others, like Makindye-Lukuuli in Makindye division, were equally bad.

However, both roads have since been funded by the World Bank under the Second Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDP II).

The roads were bumpy and dusty on hot days, muddy and slippery when it rained.

The project, with funding from the World Bank and the Government of Uganda, was under the Second Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDP 2), which ended in 2021.

Diseases like cough, flu, and sneezing were common ailments among the communities. For those who used to wear white outfits, washing was a problem. Today, the communities walk away with smiles on their faces.

“I used to close my windows throughout the day and night, and yet it was unhygienic, Florence Nakamatte, a resident of Bunamuwaya-Kibwa zone, said.

After the reconstruction of the road, residents say they can now take 20 minutes using commuter taxis to get to their destinations.

The LC1 chairman, Katale-Mayanja, Haji Musa Muyingo, explained that initially the road was impassable, and thanked the World Bank and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), who came up with the idea.

Muyingo explained that since the roads are divided into two divisions and two districts, Kampala and Wakiso, there has been a lot of development and easy movement.

The project, he says, was one of those that created employment opportunities for the youth, and their lives never remained the same.

“Youth who were recommended and acquired jobs in construction saved their money as start-up capital, and their businesses have since grown”, Muyingo explained.

The value of land has gone up from sh50m per plot to sh120m, and the rental demand has also gone up from houses from about sh100,000 to sh500,000 on average, because the houses are now better with good ambience.

Although residents praise the government for the road works, issues and maintenance of the road remain a challenge, as residents say that it is KCCA's responsibility.

KCCA engineer Jacob Byabakama revealed that after works on the road, they handed over the road to Makindye Ssabagabo.

"As KCCA, we carry out maintenance up to a place called Star, a place where Kampala is cut off from Wakiso district," said Byabakama.

KCCA signed a contract with China State Construction and Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC) for the 8.06 km Kabuusu–Bunamuwaya road project, giving the contractor 15 months to complete the work.