Masaka unveils road repair plans

Masaka Diocesan bishop, John Baptist Kaggwa and other pilgrims arrive at St. Bruno Ssaza Parish Church last Sunday. Bishop Kaggwa gave Masaka Municipality authorities a one-week ultimatum to fix all the potholes in the municipality, particularly Nyendo–Kitovu road, which connects to Kitovu Cathedral or else he stages a demonstration. Photo by Christopher Kisekka

What you need to know:

  • Under the arrangement, the streets will be reconstructed at a cost of Shs14.9 billion.
  • Many roads in Masaka Municipality are currently in a sorry state and residents have on several occasions staged demonstrations to express their disillusionment.

Masaka. The threat to hold a demonstration by Masaka Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa over bad roads in Masaka Municipality could yield some tangible results after the district authorities unveiled a plan to renovate four major streets in the town.
The launch of the project comes days after Bishop Kaggwa gave Masaka Municipality authorities

Bishop Kaggwa to demonstrate over potholes

In December last year, Bishop Kaggwa had staged a demonstration but he was convinced to call it off by authorities who promised to work on the roads by March, 2016

from last Sunday to fix all the potholes in the municipality, particularly Nyendo–Kitovu road, which connects to Kitovu Cathedral or else he stages a demonstration.
Under the arrangement, the streets will be reconstructed at a cost of Shs14.9 billion.

During the inspection of the four streets by Masaka Municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga and Ms Mary Babirye Kabanda (Masaka District Woman) on Wednesday, the principal municipal engineer, Mr Augustus Turibarungi, revealed that they had already secured the funds for the construction works.
The project is part of the Uganda Support to Municipality Infrastructural Development Project (USMID) funded by the World Bank.
The streets to be revamped include Edward Avenue, Jasiby, Buddu and Ssese streets. The drainage system on some of the streets will also be improved and flower gardens and pedestrian walkways created, according to Mr Turibarungi.
However, Nyendo–Kitovu road is not among those set to be renovated under the project.

“Everything is now set and we expect construction works to be completed mid next year,” he said.
Many roads in Masaka Municipality are currently in a sorry state and residents have on several occasions staged demonstrations to express their disillusionment.
Mr Mpuuga, who heads the district roads committee, said there was a weakness by the former committee and warned that he will not let the funds be misused.
Ms Kabanda, also one a member of the district works committee, called upon Masaka residents to cooperate with the authorities so that construction works can go on smoothly.