1000kms of roads to be constructed

Oct 01, 2010

THIRTY-TWO roads will be tarmacked beginning December this year and the Government has set aside $8b (sh1.8 trillion) for the countryside project. Over 60 others will be rehabilitated.

By Henry Nsubuga

THIRTY-TWO roads will be tarmacked beginning December this year and the Government has set aside $8b (sh1.8 trillion) for the countryside project. Over 60 others will be rehabilitated.

According to the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), up to 1,000km of roads will be worked on and the funds were included in this year’s budget.

The roads include, Mbarara-Kikagati (75km), Nyakahita-Ibanda-Kamwenge-Fortportal (208km), Gulu-Atiak-Bibia-Nimulle (104km), Mpigi-Kabulasoke-Maddu-Sembabule (135km), Vurra-Arua-Koboko-Oraba (92km), Maraba/Busia-Bugiri (82km), Mbarara-Kabale-Katuna (154km), Mukono-Kayunga/Nkoloto-Njeru (94km), and Jinja-Kamuli (69km)

Others are Mukono-Katosi/Kisoga-Nyenga (72km), Moroto-Nakapiripirit (90km), Ntungamo-Kakitumba/Mirama hills (37km), Ishaka-Kagamba (72km), Kapchorwa-Suam (77km), Rukungiri-Kihihi-Ishasha (104 km), Kaiso-Tonya-Hoima (85km) and Soroti-Mbale-Tororo (140km).

UNRA publicist, Dan Kitakule Alinange, told Saturday Vision that the Government had started procuring the necessary items for the projects.

On some roads, he said, work had kicked off. These include Kampala-Masaka (124km), Kawempe-Kafu-Soroti-Lira (123km), Kabale-Kisoro (100km), Kampala-Gayaza-Zirobwe (42km), Matugga-Semuto-Kapeeka (41km), Masaka-Mbarara (148km), Kampala-Mityana (57km), Fortportal-Bundibugyo (103km) and Kampala-Jinja (80km).

Alinange said that the Government was using funds from the European Union and national coffers to run the projects. Many of the roads across the country are in a sorry state. Some of the roads will be widened in the process, which will result into the displacement of thousands of people who live along them.

The Government had demarcated the property that will be destroyed in the process. Their owners expect compensation.

The condemned properties include residential and commercial buildings, toilets, cemeteries and open grounds.

In some areas, the affected residents are complaining about their fate, with some doubting whether they will be genuinely compensated.

Some of the victims who talked to Saturday Vision, said even though work on the roads was about to start, they have not yet been cleared and yet they have to identify areas where to shift to.

The affected residents in Mpigi and Buntambala districts where UNRA has started working on the 153km of Mpigi-Butambala-Maddu-Sembabule road, had mixed reactions. “We want the road but we are desperate. We don’t know how our property will be valued and how much we shall be paid and when,” said Siraje Mubiru of Butambala.

Mohamed Kateregga of Bboza village in Mpigi said the whole of his plot would be consumed. “I have been living here for more than 20 years. I am not happy to shift to any other place and when those who were valuing the property came, they only considered what they could see, like the house and plantations. I am not sure whether they considered the land,” Kateregga said.

The mayor of Gombe town council, Abdu Kiwunde said that most of the residents will have to buy new plots of land elsewhere.

Some residents like Shida Najjuuko and Ben Ssekandi want the Government to explain to the locals what is going on instead of them landing on strangers walking through their land.

However, some residents welcome the development. “Development comes with a cost,” said Rose Nayiga, adding, “as long as people are compensated. After all, most of those houses are old. The owners should only be happy that they are going to build modern structures.”

Alinange assured them that before handing over the roads to the contractor, UNRA will have paid the affected residents.

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