By Vision Reporter

Government has allocated sh72.7b more to the Uganda Road Fund to enhance funding for national road maintenance. The total allocation for the roads sector amounts to sh352.9b.

Finance minister Maria Kiwanuka said the additional funds would enhance road maintenance.

The Uganda Road Fund will fund routine maintenance of 22,500km of District and Town Council roads and 4,500km of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Municipal Roads as well as removal of bottlenecks on 30,000km of Community Access roads.

Road to be worked on include: Mbarara – Katuna (124km); Tororo – Mbale (49km), Mbale – Soroti (102km), Vurra-Arua-Koboko-Oraba (92km),  Gulu- Atiak (74km),  Ishaka–Kagamba (35.4km), Ntungamo–Mirama Hill (37kms), Moroto–Nakapiripiriti (93.3kms),  Kampala-Entebbe Expressway (51km), Atiaka-Nimule (33Km), Jinja - Mukono (52Kms).

The minister however, underscored the need to improve procurement, contracting and implementation of government projects.

She said construction of some roads was behind schedule, as a result of delays by the contractors to mobilise machinery, land compensation, delayed environmental approval by NEMA and delayed completion of design reviews.

With support from the World Bank, government will next financial year, commence the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the road network in 14 Municipalities across the country.

These include Arua, Gulu, Lira, Moroto, Soroti, Mbale, Tororo, Jinja, Entebbe, Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Fort Portal and Hoima.

 In addition, Kampala Capital City Authority will continue to be supported to improve the road network within the city and accelerate the programme for introduction of the Rapid Bus Transit System in order to decongest the city

District roads will also be maintained using recently acquired road equipment at district road units, the minister assured.

Independent parallel bid evaluation that has contributed to the reduction in national road costs will be extended to national road maintenance to enhance value for money.

Proposals to amend Road Fund Act will be tabled in Parliament next year to ensure adequate and timely provision of funds for road maintenance and rehabilitation, as this will increasingly require support given the large investments in road development.