By Rogers Wanambwa

KIU, Main Campus – Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has set aside at least UGX 9 billion to repair potholes spattering nearly all city roads. The money comes from the Authority budget for 2020/2021 for infrastructure works in Kampala which includes road construction.

The Minister for Kampala Betty Amongi told journalists at the Uganda Media Center on Wednesday that they sought permission from the Ministry of Finance to have all the money meant for infrastructural works in the fourth quarter from April to June 2021 dedicated to emergency road repairs at key points and sections over the next two weeks.

Amongi says they have lined up 38 roads, eight in Lubaga Division, five in Nakawa, eight in Makindye, eight in Kawempe and nine roads in Central Division to be worked on. Amongi says the move is intended to provide emergency relief following a public outcry over potholes on city roads, which affects traffic flow and the safety of road users. This money we have brought is money within KCCA. While part of it was for roads, part of it was for different road purposes but we have brought all of it together to handle the emergence of potholes. See, within the infrastructure, there is maybe road maintenance, road construction, drainage and we decided that we ask finance to allow us all the money under roads for the 4th quarter for patching the potholes. That is money which was supposed to handle overall infrastructure but we have now refocussed it to pothole handling," Amongi said

Amongi says the UGX 9 billion shall also be used on drainage system works, which shall include construction of box culverts at areas prone to flooding. The Authority receives UGX 26 billion from the road fund for road maintenance.

Besides, much of its budget for infrastructural development is donor-funded with ongoing major road works implemented under the Kampala Institutional Infrastructure Development Project KIIDP II. The Authority also plans to construct 68km of roads with financing from the African Development Bank (ADB).

Among the roads to be patched are; in Lubaga Division, Masaka Road, Bulange Way, Lubaga Road, Zaake Road, Ham Mukasa Road, Balintuma, Wakaliga, and Hoima Road. In Nakawa Division; Katalima road, New portbell, Nagulu, Kigobe, and Kinawataka.

In Makindye; Katwe, Nsambya, Tank Hill, Nsambya Estate, Ggaba, Ochola Close, Usafi, and Namasole. In Kawempe Division, Division Road, Kyabando Ring Road, Nabweru, Sir Apollo Kaggwa 2, Ddwaliro, Nkinzi, Bombo, and Alice Kaga Road.

Lastly, in Central Division, Martin Road, Old Kampala, Gadhafi, Kasozi, Bombo Road, Boundary Road, Kampala, Sir Apollo From Bakery Road To Makerere Hill Road and, Sepirian Road.