Wakiso leaders say need sh30b for road works, call for special status in budgeting

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Wakiso leaders say they need shillings 30 billion to work on district roads measuring up to 30km.

Addressing journalists during a courtesy call to Vision Group head offices in Kampala city on July 29, 2025, Wakiso district LC5 chairperson Matia Lwanga Bwanika said, “This chronic under-funding has meant that only 3% of roads in Wakiso are tarmacked. But the fact of the matter is that Wakiso is interlinked with Kampala, a business hub that keeps the country moving."

The head of Bukedde newspaper, Michael Mukasa Ssebowa, welcoming Wakiso district leaders to the New Vision head offices on July 29, 2025. Right is the LC5 chairman, Matia Lwanga Bwanika and the CAO, Alfred Malinga (second right). (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Wakiso district chairman, Matia Lwanga Bwanika (right) introducing leaders to the head of Bukedde paper, Michael Ssebbowa. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

He added that Wakiso is also a transit area, which links to the other parts of the country.

While meeting Bukedde and New Vision editors and reporters, Bwanika disclosed that this financial year, the Government allocated what he termed as a meagre shillings 10 billion to go towards road construction and rehabilitation.

The Wakiso CAO, Alfred Malinga speaking during a meeting at the New Vision offices. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

“We need modern roads if we are to play that role. Important to note is that a kilometre of road works in Wakiso costs up to shillings two billion, millions more compared to other districts,” he said.

Bwanika, who led a team of up to 10 officials from the district, said the meeting at Vision Group was aimed at educating journalists about the newly launched Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program (GKMA-UDP), in which the World Bank has committed to giving Uganda billions for road construction and rehabilitation.

He called upon the Government to accord a special status to Wakiso as a special planning zone, as it did Kampala.

“I think what needs to be done is to allocate money in terms of the number of kilometres of roads the district has and the number of people it harbours. The Government also need to look at the uniqueness of Wakiso, since everyone entering or leaving Kampala, from whichever direction, passes through Wakiso district.

He added that in terms of traffic, Wakiso district has the highest burden of traffic. “Even our roads degenerate quickly. And then you see the allocation in terms of roads, Wakiso receives the same amount of money as other districts, despite the bourgeoning population,” he said.

He further told reporters that local Governments have initiated a conversation with the finance and works ministries for a special allocation to the district.

“It has been the same thing with the Parish Development Model (PDM), but you have heard President Museveni himself saying he was going to revise and make sure that urban districts get a special, increased budget.”

Health boost

Wakiso District Administrative Officer (CAO), Alfred Malinga, said that they need preferential treatment when it comes to infrastructure for the provision of health services.

“With a population of 3.4 million people, we have only four Health Centres IV. The number of outpatients we receive at these centres is also greater than that received in referral hospitals located in rural districts,” he said.

“We urgently need a special, a unique status. In the health centre of Kampala, there are five doctors. When one looks at caesarean cases, in a month, there are about 289 cases. That means in a day, a doctor is handling over 10 caesarean cases,” said Malinga.

The Wakiso LC5 chairman, Matia Lwanga Bwanika (second left) speaking to Fred kaweesi, the sports editor at the New Vision head office in Kampala, July 29,2025. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

The metropolitan project

The GKMA-UDP encompasses not only Kampala but also other key areas such as Entebbe, Kira, Makindye-Ssabagabo, Mukono, Nansana, and the districts of Mukono, Mpigi, and Wakiso.

The programme's focus areas are enhancing mobility and accessibility through road upgrades, bolstering urban resilience with drainage infrastructure, fostering job creation through workspace establishment, and strengthening institutional capacity for co-ordinated planning and investment in infrastructure.

Bwanika said under GKMA-UDP, they are planning to build roads such as Bweya-Namulanda-Kajansi, measuring 7km, Nalumunye Road, as well as the Kayunga-Kawanda Road.

Road construction in Makindye-Ssabagabo has also kicked off in earnest, with roads such as Kibutika (2.90km), Kibutika Municipal (1km), Mpala (0.6km) and Nakayenga (0.60km), which are being constructed by Jilk Construction Ltd.

China First Highway Engineering was hired and is currently constructing Lubugumu-Busabala Link I (2.30km), Lubugumu Link 2 (1.20km, Lubugumu-Busabala Link 3 (0.50km, and Lubugumu-Kakoola (1.06km).

Malinga said the works to which the World Bank has allocated shillings 70 billion will take 18 months to complete. Other roads to be constructed include:

Bukasa-Sentema-Kakiri (12.17km)

Kitemu Kisozi (2.0km)

Nagalabi Spur (2.0km)

Seguku-Nalumunye-Bandwe-Kinaawa-Kyengera (8,2km)

Namulanda-Bweya-Kajjansi-Airstrip—Dambwe-Lutembe Beach (17.3km)

Kayinga-Kawanda-Kiteezi-Luteete-Namirembe Hillside (12.1km).

Wakiso's head of communications, Prossy Nakalembe, said they will soon undertake sensitisation initiatives to teach locals about environmental protection and avoiding littering, especially in urban areas.

Wakiso district leaders posing for a group photo inside the Vision Group premises. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

Leaders from Wakiso district led by the LC5 chairman, Matia Lwanga Bwanika (C) and CAO, Alfred Malinga (3rd right) Tuesday paid a visit to the New Vision head and interacted with some editors. 6th left is Miria Sydney, Content Manager special projects and Francis Kagolo, Senior Producer, News and Current Affairs. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Sydney Miria, in charge special projects engaging a district leader. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)