ADB to finance Rukungiri-Ishaka road upgrade

By Vision Reporter

Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has applauded the African Development Bank for its commitment to supporting infrastructure development in Uganda.

Mbabazi said Government greatly appreciates the support African Development Bank has continued to extend to Uganda in the various areas of cooperation.

The Premier made the remarks in a meeting the African Development Bank Resident Representative, Medjomo Coulibaly who called on him at his office in Kampala.

The Bank has reached an agreement with the Government on the use of the traditional procurement methods instead of out-put based Performance Road Contracting for the Rukungiri-Kihihi-Ishasha/Kanungu road in order to expedite the procurement process.

African Development Bank has, however, recommended that government considers the use of out-put based Performance Road Contract mode for future operations.

Mbabazi identified Kapchorwa-Bukwo and Mbale-Lwakhaka roads as other road projects which require urgent support.
“We hope the Bank’s capacity will increase to grant us much needed relief in the provision of services to our people,” Mbabazi said.

Mbabazi and his guest agreed to further their discussion on specific areas of improvement which include; weak project designs and change of work scope, the slow procurement process and the weak monitoring and evaluation systems; all of which lead to cost overruns and project delays.

Medjomo said his Bank will, in the month of March, hold a dialogue with government agencies to review the implementation of the Country Portfolio Performance Improvement Plan.

Some of the programs funded by the African Development Bank include; the Community Agriculture Infrastructure Improvement Project, Markets and Agriculture Trade Improvement.

Others are the Kabale-Kisoro-Bunagana road project, Fort-Portal-Bundibugyo and Nyakahita-Ibanda road projects.

The Bank is also supporting the Kampala water and sanitation project, rehabilitation of Mulago and Kampala Capital City Authority clinics, Post- primary education and training project as well as Bujagali transmission interconnection project and Mbarara-Nkenda –Tororo to Lira transmission lines project.