$100m project to end Kampala flooding
Nov 21, 2007
POT-HOLED’, ‘dirty’, ‘smelly’, ‘noisy’ are some of the adjectives that come to mind when describing Kampala.
By Joel Ogwang
POT-HOLED’, ‘dirty’, ‘smelly’, ‘noisy’ are some of the adjectives that come to mind when describing Kampala.
Scenes of submerged houses and vehicles failing to negotiate their way past mud, are common.
However, the World Bank has approved a $100m (sh170b) grant to give Kampala a new look. With much of the infrastructure improvement already done ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the grant will now propel Kampala to even greater heights, if the funds are used efficiently.
State of roads
Kampala has no plan, says Tamale Kiggundu, a Kampala City Council official. “That is why the state of the infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired,†he says.
Most of the roads were built 40 years ago.
To mitigate the poor roads, the Government has taken to patching them up. “That is useless. The roads need reconstruction.â€
Skeptics, however, argue that all these developments are taking place because of CHOGM.
“Only roads where Queen Elizabeth II, will pass and see are being refurbished,†says Kizito, a trader on Luwum Street.
This, critics say, is the reason Kalerwe Market, Kawempe Division and the nearly filled-up Kampala City Council (KCC) land fill at Mpererwe are not getting attention.
Kampala’s transformation
According to Vincent Ssekono, the local government permanent secretary, Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure development Project (KIIDP), a World Bank-funded initiative, is tasked with transforming the city.
Preparations kick-off
Kiggundu, the KIIDP project coordinator, says, “Following the state of the city, we (KCC), in 2004, presented a proposal to the Government.â€
The Government sent the proposal to the World Bank for funding, after it was approved by the Parliament. KIIDP was okayed by all concerned parties, says Ssekono.
Project proposal
“The 10-year project will kick-off in the first quarter of 2008,†Kiggundu says.
KIIDP’s priority areas include; “The drainage systems, markets and solid waste management in the central business district,†says Kiggundu.
KIIDP will develop markets, drainage channels, re-tool KCC staff, and strengthen her income.
Markets
“A market will be built in Makindye. Kalerwe, Bwaise, Natete and Kibuli markets will be redeveloped. The markets will have stalls, shops and parking slots,†says Kiggundu.
Drainages
Kampala has seven drainage channels, the main one being Nakivubo channel. There is also Lubigi and Nalukolongo channels.
Lubigi floods Bwaise while Nalukolongo floods Nateete, Ndeeba and Kibuye. “These will be addressed in the first phase. Box culverts will also be installed,†says Kiggundu.
Roads
Mukwano Clock Tower, Lugogo By-pass and Kira roads will be re-surfaced. Kalerwe–Bwaise, Kawempe–Kalerwe and Bukoto–Kisasi roads will be tarmacked.
All city division roads will be resurfaced. Some roads were worked on during CHOGM preparations, says Kiggundu. “But we will improve them.â€
Garbage
Kampala emits 500 tonnes of garbage a day, but only 40% is collected. “We plan to start recycling and decomposing garbage as a long-term solution to the garbage problem,†Kiggundu says.
Currently, KCC uses a six-acre land fill at Kitezi in Mpererwe. The land fill is, however, nearing exhaustion. “It will be exhausted by the end of 2008,†says Kiggundu.
Re-tooling KCC
City Hall, the KCC headquarters, will be stocked with computers and vehicles for supervisory works.
“There is also a financial recovery plan,†Kiggundu says.
This will strengthen the KCC revenue base.
POT-HOLED’, ‘dirty’, ‘smelly’, ‘noisy’ are some of the adjectives that come to mind when describing Kampala.
Scenes of submerged houses and vehicles failing to negotiate their way past mud, are common.
However, the World Bank has approved a $100m (sh170b) grant to give Kampala a new look. With much of the infrastructure improvement already done ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the grant will now propel Kampala to even greater heights, if the funds are used efficiently.
State of roads
Kampala has no plan, says Tamale Kiggundu, a Kampala City Council official. “That is why the state of the infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired,†he says.
Most of the roads were built 40 years ago.
To mitigate the poor roads, the Government has taken to patching them up. “That is useless. The roads need reconstruction.â€
Skeptics, however, argue that all these developments are taking place because of CHOGM.
“Only roads where Queen Elizabeth II, will pass and see are being refurbished,†says Kizito, a trader on Luwum Street.
This, critics say, is the reason Kalerwe Market, Kawempe Division and the nearly filled-up Kampala City Council (KCC) land fill at Mpererwe are not getting attention.
Kampala’s transformation
According to Vincent Ssekono, the local government permanent secretary, Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure development Project (KIIDP), a World Bank-funded initiative, is tasked with transforming the city.
Preparations kick-off
Kiggundu, the KIIDP project coordinator, says, “Following the state of the city, we (KCC), in 2004, presented a proposal to the Government.â€
The Government sent the proposal to the World Bank for funding, after it was approved by the Parliament. KIIDP was okayed by all concerned parties, says Ssekono.
Project proposal
“The 10-year project will kick-off in the first quarter of 2008,†Kiggundu says.
KIIDP’s priority areas include; “The drainage systems, markets and solid waste management in the central business district,†says Kiggundu.
KIIDP will develop markets, drainage channels, re-tool KCC staff, and strengthen her income.
Markets
“A market will be built in Makindye. Kalerwe, Bwaise, Natete and Kibuli markets will be redeveloped. The markets will have stalls, shops and parking slots,†says Kiggundu.
Drainages
Kampala has seven drainage channels, the main one being Nakivubo channel. There is also Lubigi and Nalukolongo channels.
Lubigi floods Bwaise while Nalukolongo floods Nateete, Ndeeba and Kibuye. “These will be addressed in the first phase. Box culverts will also be installed,†says Kiggundu.
Roads
Mukwano Clock Tower, Lugogo By-pass and Kira roads will be re-surfaced. Kalerwe–Bwaise, Kawempe–Kalerwe and Bukoto–Kisasi roads will be tarmacked.
All city division roads will be resurfaced. Some roads were worked on during CHOGM preparations, says Kiggundu. “But we will improve them.â€
Garbage
Kampala emits 500 tonnes of garbage a day, but only 40% is collected. “We plan to start recycling and decomposing garbage as a long-term solution to the garbage problem,†Kiggundu says.
Currently, KCC uses a six-acre land fill at Kitezi in Mpererwe. The land fill is, however, nearing exhaustion. “It will be exhausted by the end of 2008,†says Kiggundu.
Re-tooling KCC
City Hall, the KCC headquarters, will be stocked with computers and vehicles for supervisory works.
“There is also a financial recovery plan,†Kiggundu says.
This will strengthen the KCC revenue base.