Oil roads: UNRA asks for sh3 trillion

PIC: Kagina interacting with the head of enterprise architecture and standards, Issah Kiganda and Kizito during a press conference at UNRA offices in Kampala on Wednesday. (Credit: Nancy Nanyonga)

INFRASTRUCTURE | OIL 

KAMPALA - If the Government is to meet the 2020 deadline set for the construction of 10 oil roads, sh3.2 trillion must be secured by November for the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to commence with the construction works.

According to UNRA's Charles Kizito, the head of corporate strategy, of the sh3.2 trillion needed for the 10 oil roads in the Albertine Graben, sh900b (about 30%) will be secured by the Government , while the 70% will come from private funders.

"We need about sh3.2 trillion for the oil roads," Kizito said.

During a press conference at UNRA offices in Kampala on Wednesday, the executive director, Allen Kagina, outlined the performance of the organisation that handles infrastructure in the country.

The Government has set the 2020 target for oil production in the country.

The 10 oil roads include, Masindi-Kisanja road junction (84km), Masindi - through Murchison falls game park, Kabale-Kizirafumbi-Kaseeta-lwera via Bugoma forest (54km) and Packwach-Paraa-Buliisa (66km). Others are Bahimba-Nalweyo-Kakindu-Kakumiro-Mubende (51km), Lusalira-Nkonge-Lumegere (55km) and Lumegere-Sembabule and Kyotera-Rakai road (60km), among others.

Kagina said the improvement of in-house capacity has yielded savings of over sh215b

Apart from the oil roads, Kagina said the improvement of in-house capacity has helped UNRA save sh215b, by weeding out the outsourcing of contracts.

"The improvement of in-house capacity has already yielded savings of over sh215b," Kagina said.

Kagina added that UNRA this month started enforcing new regulations on use of road reserves and ferry landing sites.

"Effective this month, these regulations will help the organisation in ensuring that the road assets are managed efficiently, are safe for the users, well-protected and are used responsibly," she said.

The new regulations were mooted following reports that some people had illegally acquired land in road reserves and landing sites without authority from UNRA.

"We appeal to the public, through the media to continue familiarsing themselves with these regulations to avoid the harsh penalties," Kagina said.

Under the regulations, offenders of various road regulations face up to seven years in jail or pay a fine of up to sh100m.