UNRA asks for Shs74b for emergency response
Stranded. Residents clear Kabale-Lake Bunyonyi road at Kiyora Village, Kabale District, after a landslide. PHOTO BY ROBERT MUHERZA
What you need to know:
Ms Kagina asked members of the public in any affected part of the country not to keep quiet, encouraging them to report any broken roads, bridges to the Authority for appropriate response.
However speaking to Daily Monitor, the Ministry of Finance spokesperson Mr Jim Mugunga said he was not privy to the information about the request but added that having such amounts of funds released takes a long process.
Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has asked ministry of finance planning and economic development for more funds for emergency response.
This follows the collapse of bridges and roads in several parts across the country as a result of the heavy rains which have been experienced over the past month.
Addressing journalists at the UNRA headquarters in Nakawa, the Authority’s executive director Allen Kagina said the rains have adversely affected the road infrastructure with the restoration of connectivity ongoing now.
“We usually have some money set aside and equipment for emergency but in this instance, it has been more than anticipated and so we requested for financial support from ministry of finance so that we can reconnect and we are monitoring all the time to see the very vulnerable areas,” Ms Kagina said.
“We have asked for Shs74 billion for emergency response across the country,” she revealed.
She said the authority is currently in emergency response mode, reaching out to all areas that have been affected by the heavy rains and floods.
She said several areas have been flooded and some roads washed away completely, adding that River Kaffu and River Sezibwa waters have reached the top of the bridge.
“We have our stations all over the country identifying the most critical areas and washouts and restoring connectivity,” she added.
Ms Kagina asked members of the public in any affected part of the country not to keep quiet, encouraging them to report any broken roads, bridges to the Authority for appropriate response.
However speaking to Daily Monitor, the Ministry of Finance spokesperson Mr Jim Mugunga said he was not privy to the information about the request but added that having such amounts of funds released takes a long process.
“I’m not privy but if they have said it, then I have no reason to doubt them. However there is a process that must be followed,” he said.
He said UNRA has been at it for some time and certainly know the process to be followed before the money can be released
“All that money cannot be an emergency, but they could be having emergency work they have to do because of the rains so that process will sort out all that,” Mr Mugunga said.
