The Ugandan Government has put aside $8b (Uganda sh1.8 trillion) for a countryside project to construct 32 roads and Tarmac then starting December 2010. Over 60 others will be improved.
The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) stated that up to 1,000km of roads will be worked on and this implementation has been planned for in the country’s budget.
The roads include, Mbarara-Kikagati (75km), Mbarara-Kabale-Katuna (154km), Nyakahita-Ibanda-Kamwenge-Fortportal (208km), Vurra-Arua-Koboko-Oraba (92km), Maraba/Busia-Bugiri (82km), Mpigi-Kabulasoke-Maddu-Sembabule (135km ), Gulu-Atiak-Bibia-Nimulle (104km), Mukono-Kayunga/Nkoloto-Njeru (94km)and Jinja-Kamuli (69km)
Other roads that will be worked on include; Kapchorwa-Suam (77km), Moroto-Nakapiripirit (90km), Ntungamo-Kakitumba/Mirama hills (37km), Mukono-Katosi/Kisoga-Nyenga (72km), Ishaka-Kagamba (72km) , Kaiso-Tonya-Hoima (85km) , Rukungiri-Kihihi-Ishasha (104 km) and Soroti-Mbale-Tororo (140km).
The Government has started procuring the necessary items for the projects while some roads have been started upon like Kawempe-Kafu-Soroti-Lira (123km), Matugga-Semuto-Kapeeka (41km), Kampala-Gayaza-Zirobwe (42km), Kampala-Masaka (124km), Kabale-Kisoro (100km), Masaka-Mbarara (148km), Kampala-Mityana (57km), Fortportal-Bundibugyo (103km) and Kampala-Jinja (80km).
The Government is using funds from the European Union and national coffers to run the projects. Many roads in Ugandan are in a bad state and some of them will be widened in the process, which will result into the displacement of thousands of people who live along them. The Government has defined the property that will be destroyed in the process and hopes to compensate the owners.
The affected residents in Mpigi and Buntambala districts where UNRA has started working on the 153km of Mpigi-Butambala-Maddu-Sembabule road, have mixed reactions. In a statement , they were heard saying , that they want the road but are desperate because they are unsure how their property will be valued and how much they shall be paid and when.
This infrastructural development will increase on Uganda’s trade and tourism industry .
By TANAH HADIJAH
UGANDA TRAVEL NEWS
