KCCA reveals Shs485b key development plans for Kampala

Ms Jennifer Musisi addresses journalists at City Hall yesterday. PHOTO BY Dominic Bukenya.

Kampala

The Kampala Capital City Authority Executive Director has revealed development programmes for Kampala City that will be the key focus starting 2015, giving the road sector priority.

Addressing journalists yesterday at City Hall, Ms Jennifer Musisi vowed to “shine” Kampala following the approval of the $175m (about Shs484.23 billion) funds for the Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDP)-II.

“It is always the funds that cause hindrances to most of our projects, but we thank the Parliament of Uganda for approving the KIIPD loan,” she said.

Under the KIIDP funds, she noted that KCCA shall work on most of the tributary drainage channels in Kampala suburbs and reshape some of the road junctions in the city to create a smooth traffic flow. She revealed that most of the key streets in Kampala will be renamed to give them code numbers; a process that is underway with the city cadastre already developed using the authority’s geographic information system (GIS) department.

The business of boda bodas will be restricted to certain zones and the process of city zone mapping for the cyclists has been completed although implementation awaits completion of the alternative transport means for the public that has been using the boda bodas.

Musisi also said Pioneer Bus will resume business in two-months time to supplement the railway transport, which will start in January next year, with other projects such as the flyovers underway.
“We have finallised all the necessary procedures for the Clock Tower– Jinja Road flyover project and the process to remove the clock tower junction and Umeme substation are complete,” she observed.
Although development is necessary, Ms Musisi warned all developers that starting next year, building plans without parking lots will be deferred or rejected.

“Our licensing is going to change to consider inclusion of components like garbage collection centres and parking lots on the building,” she said. “Restaurants without toilets and old buildings in poor conditions will be closed to allow owners to restructure them,” she added.

Ms Musisi said, although KCCA anticipates implementing most of the highlighted projects, she asked the public to support and engage in the transformation of the city for the good of everyone.
“We have not been all perfect in 2014, but we are open to constructive criticism, because they help us improve where we go wrong and the public should continue to support us in consolidating the so-far achieved developments,” she said.

The authority has scored beyond expectations, according to Ms Musisi, which has earned it national, regional and international honours as “benchmark” institution of excellence.

“We have received 21 awards for excellent performance and KCCA is becoming a benchmark institution in innovation and performance both locally and internationally, which has linked us to potential partners seeking to invest into some of our projects like the non-motorised transport and the cable cars,” she boasted.

The achievements

KCCA has grown its revenue collection from Shs30b to Shs70b from 2011 to-date. Asset for KCCA has grown from Shs45b to Shs450b for the last three and half years. Increased garbage collection from 12000 tons to 35000 tone and the health sector has seen an increase in patients handling shooting to 295, 632 in the outpatient units and 13, 247 deliveries and a total of 29, 733 attendances. KCCA has constructed 72kms of road in total with the other 29km expected to be complete by June next year.