Hoima-Butiaba-Wanseko road for upgrade

By Billy Rwothungeyo

The Uganda National Roads Authority has started the process of upgrading the Hoima-Butiaba-Wanseko road by undertaking a feasibility study and getting a detailed design of the works.

The process is expected to take 12 months. The 111km road is one of the major corridors serving the Albertine oil region.

The Government has prioritised improvement of infrastructure in the oil, tourism and agricultural regions.

The Government is also constructing Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya road (92km) and works on the Kigumba-Masindi- Hoima-Bulima-Kabwoya-Kyenjojo (240km) will start in the first half of 2014.

“The works on Hoima-Butiaba- Wanseko road are expected to start during the second half of 2015. This is subject to availability of funding for the project,” said Dan Alinange, the UNRA head of corporate communications.

Once the design is completed, then the affected properties and property owners will be identified and compensated before works start.

“We are finalising the compensation of affected people on Hoima-Kaiso- Tonya road and compensation of those affected on the Kigumba-Masindi- Hoima-Bulima-Kabwoya-Kyenjojo road will commence during the first half of 2014.

“Unfortunately there are people who are confusing property owners in the oil region by telling them that their properties have more value than their actual worth. This has caused unnecessary confusion and created bad publicity for UNRA and other institutions involved in land acquisition in the oil region,” Alinange noted.