Use road construction projects to make money - Kamya

Kampala minister Betty Kamya has advised city dwellers especially youth near road construction sites to take advantage of all opportunities to mint money out of it.

Kamya made the remarks during the ground breaking of the construction of 38 roads in the city at Nateete Sembera Road, Rubaga division on Thursday.

Kamya was accompanied by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) executive director Jennifer Musisi, Kampala City Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago, Rubaga division Member of Parliament Moses Kasibante, Kawempe South Member of Parliament Latif Ssebagala among others.

Kamya launched roads in all the city divisions on Thursday and Friday.

"Now that government has started such projects, the president will not come to you with ideas on how to make money out of it. The construction of the roads will take long, and in that period one can make a lot of money out of them" Kamya said.

She added there are several ways one can extract money out of such opportunities and mentioned cooking for contractors' food as one of them.

Kamya said the roads will help minimize boda bodas accidents in the city adding that they will contain walk ways for pedestrians. She urged people in areas where the roads are being constructed to keep an eye on the works and report whatever goes wrong to KCCA and Police.

KCCA has started the construction of six roads in Makindye division which will cost sh31.5bn. The roads that include Kulekana-2.1km, Nsambya-Katwe- 0.95km, Jjuko-1.3km, Kevina-1.2km, Appas-1.3km and Bugolobi-Namuwongo Link-0.4km will be constructed by Abubaker Technical Services and General Supplies Ltd.

The construction of six roads in Kawempe division including Jakaana -0.65km, Nsooba-0.75km, Kafeero-0.8km, Lumasi-0.55km, Muganzi-Awongera- 1.6km, and Waligo- 4.2km is going to cost sh54.8bn.

KCCA hired Stirling Engineering Company Limited to construct eight roads in Nakawa including Magambo-0.9km, Dembe-Kilowoza- 3.0km, Kiziri-0.75km, Kigoowa-1.9km, Kimera-1.4km, Kisalita-0.7km, Kisosonkole-1.0km, and Robert Mugabe-1.8km at sh34.5bn

In Rubaga division KCCA hired Energo Projekt Niskogradnja to construct five roads including Bakuli market lane-1.0km, Nakibinge-Bawalakata- 2.9km, Mackay-1.6km, Sembera-1.5 km, Concrete Box Culvert at Sembule and Nalukolongo Channel at sh54.8bn.

During the launch, Musisi said the roads will have street lights, proper drainage systems, humps, road signs and others.

"The construction of all roads will take eighteen months. You should cooperate with the contractors to allow them finish in time," Musisi told dwellers.

Grace Sebugwaawo the LC 2 Chairperson of Kyanja parish commended KCCA for constructing roads in his area and requested for water to be sprinkled on the roads to prevent dust from rising.

Mary Namuwonge a resident of Nateete said people should embrace the development that is being brought in the area adding that they will attract businesses and people in the area will be employed.

She added that KCCA should put it into consideration and order its contractors to employ local people to fight unemployment in the city.

In Kawempe at Waligo road, the chairperson of Komamboga central, Noah Mukasa said residents of the area have for long waited for the construction of the road adding that the state in which it was lagging the area behind.

Mukasa however said there has not been enough sensitization about the process in which the road is going to be constructed to the people especially on the compensation issue.   

Mukasa said, "That is the reason as to why most people have not been giving in their land for the road construction. They don't know if they will be compensated by government."

 Jane Mbatudde also a resident of Komamboga said they are excited about the road construction adding that the issue of the dust that has been causing several diseases to people will be resolved.

She however expressed worry that after the construction of the road development will come and cost of living will rise affecting low income earners who make the biggest percentage in the area.

"After the road construction, land lords might hike the rent fees due to the number of people that will be coming to invest in the area," Mbatudde said.

Kawempe division mayor Emmanuel Serunjogi urged residents to be vigilant and supervise the road works in the division adding that it is the residents who suffer once the contractor does shoddy work.

Kawempe North Member of Parliament Latif Ssebagala commended KCCA for the construction of the roads in the city and assured Kamya that Parliament will be there to support all development programs in Kampala.