Hoima, Packwach roads to be upgraded next year

By John Eremu THE long-awaited tarmacking of the Busunju-Hoima and Pakwach-Arua roads begins in January next year, John Nasasira, the works, housing and communications minister, has said. Nasasira told journalists yesterday that bids for upgrading the estimated 230 kilometres of the two roads were opened in Kampala on Monday. He said the ministry and the Road Agency Formation Unit were setting up a team of engineers to evaluate the bids. "It is expected that the selection of the contractors will be complete and the contracts ready for signature by the end of January 2,001 and thereafter work begins immediately," Nasasira said. Nasasira, however, blasted Bunyoro Kitara Bishop Wilson Turumanya for saying President Yoweri Museveni had lied to the Banyoro on the tarmacking of the Busunju - Hoima road. The Sunday Monitor October 1 quoted the prelate as saying Museveni had given several deadlines on the tarmacking of the road but had never fulfiled any. "We are tired of his lies," Turumanya was quoted as saying. But Nasasira described the remarks as unfortunate and advised the bishop to concentrate on religious work and keep out of politics. "If the quotation is true then this is very unfortunate. The bishop is invading another space which is not his," Nasasira said. He said religious leaders have promised Jesus' return for the last 2,000 years and should not talk about promises of other leaders. "The long-awaited project is now here. These were not empty promises as the bishop is trying to incite people to believe," the minister said. Nasasira said the upgrading of the two roads had been divided into four separate contracts to beat the 24-month completion period.