KCCA concludes vital works ahead of Pope''s visit

By John Agaba

THE Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) announced Thursday it had concluded landscape works, lighting and minor repairs along key roads, linking to places that will be visited by Pope Francis due here tomorrow.

These include: Entebbe, Kampala, and Jinja Roads, plus Nile Avenue, Speke Road, and Munyonyo Road and the stretch from Oasis Mall to Jinja Road have been fit with street lights.

The roads have also been improved, with fresh sealings and asphalt overlays where needed, to ready them for Pope Francis visit.

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Workers put final touches to the Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo. Photo by Miriam Namutebi

Various parts of the city, including a public park at the Our Lady Mbuya Church, next to the Apostolic Nunciature, areas near Lubaga Cathedral and outside the Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine have been trimmed.

Following confirmation of the Holy Father’s visit to Uganda from November 27, to November 29, KCCA received sh15b (on September 17) to improve and install street lights on key roads in the city.

The contract for the supply, installation and commissioning of solar street lights was awarded to Phillips East Africa Ltd at a contract price of sh7b, a statement from the office of the KCCA executive director said Thursday.   

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Pilgrims arrive in Namugongo. Photo by Miriam Namutebi

KCCA in a brief to  Prime minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda said that the contractor had been able to deliver “part” of the required lighting components as per the contract and had had to use “alternative solutions” to install lighting on the required key roads. 

It said that the permanent lighting would be completed in accordance with the contract over the next few months.

A total of sh4.9b had been committed to improve roads, while sh290m had been spent on landscaping and beautifying various parts of the city.