Roads worry donors
Oct 25, 2009
THE Government’s delayed approval of the road sector development plan has worried development partners.
By Francis Emorut
THE Government’s delayed approval of the road sector development plan has worried development partners.
“As development partners we note with concern that the update and approval of the road sector development plan, a process that started over a year ago, has not been concluded,†Vincent De Visscher, the head of European Union delegation, said.
The development partners expressed concern that the Government has implemented numerous projects without the road sector development plan.
“Despite the absence of such a plan, we currently observe that numerous projects are being prepared and implemented. We consider it essential that this planning and implementing activity takes place within a solid and agreed framework,†Visscher said.
He was speaking at the closure of the 5th joint transport sector review at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on Thursday.
“We urge the Government to endorse and update the respective plans and thereby increase planning safety, accountability as well as renew the confidence of all partners in the sector,†he said.
He appealed to the Government to engage in dialogue with the private transport operators, the Police, the Ministry of Justice and Uganda Revenue Authority to sensitise the public about the dangers of delaying the plan and the cost to the economy.
They commended the Government for establishing the Road Fund Act and asked for its operalisation by the beginning of the next financial year.
The partners urged the Government to put in place the road safety policy and strategy to coordinate and advocate for road safety activities of various institutions.
The works and transport minister, John Nasasira, assured the development partners that the national transport master plan and the greater Kampala metropolitan area were in its final stages.
THE Government’s delayed approval of the road sector development plan has worried development partners.
“As development partners we note with concern that the update and approval of the road sector development plan, a process that started over a year ago, has not been concluded,†Vincent De Visscher, the head of European Union delegation, said.
The development partners expressed concern that the Government has implemented numerous projects without the road sector development plan.
“Despite the absence of such a plan, we currently observe that numerous projects are being prepared and implemented. We consider it essential that this planning and implementing activity takes place within a solid and agreed framework,†Visscher said.
He was speaking at the closure of the 5th joint transport sector review at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on Thursday.
“We urge the Government to endorse and update the respective plans and thereby increase planning safety, accountability as well as renew the confidence of all partners in the sector,†he said.
He appealed to the Government to engage in dialogue with the private transport operators, the Police, the Ministry of Justice and Uganda Revenue Authority to sensitise the public about the dangers of delaying the plan and the cost to the economy.
They commended the Government for establishing the Road Fund Act and asked for its operalisation by the beginning of the next financial year.
The partners urged the Government to put in place the road safety policy and strategy to coordinate and advocate for road safety activities of various institutions.
The works and transport minister, John Nasasira, assured the development partners that the national transport master plan and the greater Kampala metropolitan area were in its final stages.