UNRA should complete Kampala-Gayaza Road properly
Apr 05, 2011
EDITOR: I commend the efforts by President Museveni and the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and the contractor for the great work which has so far been done on Kampala–Gayaza Road.
EDITOR: I commend the efforts by President Museveni and the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and the contractor for the great work which has so far been done on Kampala–Gayaza Road.
An asphalt layer has been laid between Ku Biri roundabout and Mpererwe. Throughout the entire stretch of the road, excellent works are going on to create proper drainage at both sides.
However, my concern is that the section between Mpererwe and Gayaza urgently needs to be finished properly with asphalt as the current plan is to leave it as it is without this driving layer.
This section is very rough and is already developing potholes in some places. I spoke at length with an engineer from UNRA who is supervising the construction of the road and he said that UNRA does not have funds to complete the laying of asphalt through the whole road section between Kampala and Gayaza.
It is inconceivable that the Government cannot raise an extra say sh6b to properly finish the road so that it lasts for another 15 years, instead of the possible five if it is left as it is now. I would also like to applaud the decision by UNRA to create a dual carriageway between Ku Biri and Kalerwe.
However, these good intentions will come to naught if UNRA and the Police do not work out a lasting solution to the traders in Kalerwe who are now using the road as a market. UNRA on its part must secure the road by placing high wall barriers and separate the lanes of the road for market users and for those who want to merely drive through.
This work should be speeded up before the market traders get used to using the road as a market.
Okello
Kampala
UNRA's response: Kampala-Gayaza Road is still under construction and will be completed properly. It was designed to last for 15 to 20 years and not five years as alleged by the writer.
A final surface dressing will be applied to sections where the road designers did not use asphalt. The surface dressing is equally strong and will not compromise the durability of the road.
Money to complete this road is available and all works will be done by end of June. UNRA is also working with the Police and local leaders to make sure traders are sensitised and stopped from using the road as a market.
Dan K. Alinange
UNRA
An asphalt layer has been laid between Ku Biri roundabout and Mpererwe. Throughout the entire stretch of the road, excellent works are going on to create proper drainage at both sides.
However, my concern is that the section between Mpererwe and Gayaza urgently needs to be finished properly with asphalt as the current plan is to leave it as it is without this driving layer.
This section is very rough and is already developing potholes in some places. I spoke at length with an engineer from UNRA who is supervising the construction of the road and he said that UNRA does not have funds to complete the laying of asphalt through the whole road section between Kampala and Gayaza.
It is inconceivable that the Government cannot raise an extra say sh6b to properly finish the road so that it lasts for another 15 years, instead of the possible five if it is left as it is now. I would also like to applaud the decision by UNRA to create a dual carriageway between Ku Biri and Kalerwe.
However, these good intentions will come to naught if UNRA and the Police do not work out a lasting solution to the traders in Kalerwe who are now using the road as a market. UNRA on its part must secure the road by placing high wall barriers and separate the lanes of the road for market users and for those who want to merely drive through.
This work should be speeded up before the market traders get used to using the road as a market.
Okello
Kampala
UNRA's response: Kampala-Gayaza Road is still under construction and will be completed properly. It was designed to last for 15 to 20 years and not five years as alleged by the writer.
A final surface dressing will be applied to sections where the road designers did not use asphalt. The surface dressing is equally strong and will not compromise the durability of the road.
Money to complete this road is available and all works will be done by end of June. UNRA is also working with the Police and local leaders to make sure traders are sensitised and stopped from using the road as a market.
Dan K. Alinange
UNRA