Potholes, accidents still rule roads

Ugandans have to wait longer than they had expected before bidding farewell to potholes as industry players battle challenges to beat their targets.

The roads sub-sector which has bagged a large chunk of the national purse over the last three years is marred by a trail of problems that have among others seen road carnage increase.

The roads, so rough and potholed make driving a tiring experience but the poor road network adds to the maddening traffic; especially within and around the Kampala city area. Funded by donors and the national road fund, the roads sub-sector, amassed Shs1.219 billion in 2011/2012 and needs another Shs5.5 billion to fix pot-holes.

By estimate, road accidents in Uganda cost 2.7 per cent (approximately Shs885bn) of Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product in terms of lives and property lost.

Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Spokesperson Dan Alinange says that over a half of the total kilometres of roads-designated for construction and repair-are complete or on-going. “64 per cent of the 20,000Km of roads are under-way or complete while the 36 per cent accounts for those affected by floods needing repair.”

But lawmakers on the watchdog Public Accounts Committee (Pac) rated the roads sub-sector as ‘worst performing’ this year. Mr Karuhanga Kafureeka Gerald, a member of the Pac committee said: “The roads and transport sector is poorly managed...the transport ministry is the worst performing ministry in Uganda.

They are always given billions of money to work on roads but unfortunately Uganda has the worst roads in the entire East Africa.” Mr Kafureeka adds that Pac will thoroughly audit the sector next year to derive the tax payer’s value for money.

But Mr Alinange refuted this, claiming the sector sets high targets which other sectors hardly do. “This sector (roads) usually sets high standards to improve every year yet other sectors set low ones that they can easily achieve so they are judged as meeting targets.”

Mr Alinange who declined to name any sector urges government to fix the system saying: “Urgent measures need to be taken by the executive arm of government to save the country from incompetent and inefficient managers.”
In 2008/2009, government funded UNRA, the body that oversees works on roads, to the tune of Sh1.1 trillion.

Development partners – European Union and African Development Bank are now on board. So far, 1000Km of roads have been constructed in the past three years, with some old ones getting a facelift.

Problems
A myriad of challenges stand in the way. High cost of construction materials, some of which are imported, inadequate physical planning leading to high compensation costs for displaced people, complex designs, delayed project implementation as well as lengthy and costly procurement systems.
Some roads damaged by heavy downpours, slashing Shs45 billion – an amount that is not part of the funds given for road repairs. This not only stagnated business but also left travellers stranded on the Kotido-Moroto road that was submerged at Lopeyi swamp.

Kampala City roads
Engineer Andrew Kitaka, the Director engineering and technical Services at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), is optimistic to turn around Kampala. “What I can tell you is that we have inherited a lot of problems from the past authorities. We are now working on ending them,” Mr Kitaka said.

A total of Shs7.8 billion has been allocated towards rehabilitatng Nakivubo drainage channel, said KCCA Executive Director. KCCA has contracted Omega Construction and Prime contractors to handle major rehabilitation at Shs5.5 billion while Bison (U) Ltd will help with routine maintenance at Shs2.3 billion.

City roads projects underway
By mid-2012, KCCA’s focus will be on Roads Maintenance, Drainage systems and Lights. So far, new lights have replaced the old since some were stolen and wiring systems destroyed, cutting short Mr Kitaka’s projection of having the city fully lit at night by end of this year. “By January 31st 2012, streets should be well lit,” he said.

Upgrading Kampala’s drainage system is another project. Top on the agenda is de-silting the eight drainage channels in the city that gets clogged with waste and eroded soil. Eng. Kitaka says that placing culverts in channels directs water to appropriate waste disposal places, controling floods that ravage slums and wetlands of Kawempe and Bwaise. For three months starting December, KCC in agreement with Bisons Constructions Limited is repairing Nakivubo channel that claimed Brenda Omuntu, a Barclays employee and a boda boda cyclist in September 2011.

Maintaining Nakasero, Buganda road and Lumumba Avenue is on-going and should be ready by June 2012. But Ugandans will have to wait much longer because of limited funds, despite these plans. “When I entered office, we had been allocated Shs45 billion for roads in Kampala. This included 15 billion from the roads fund and 30 billion from government. This is very little money compared to what people expect from us,” Mr Kasita who took office on November 1st 2011 points out.

He adds: “Of the 30 billion from Central government, 17 billion had already been used and only 13 billion remained. Of the Shs13billion, Shs5.5 billion is allocated to drainage black spots leaving only Shs7.5 billion which is now channeled to road maintenance. “What people should know is that all this money allocated is for roads maintenance and not rehabilitation,” Mr Kasita points out, assuring that: “We are going to work with what is available to ensure that we give Kampala a better look.”

The losers are people who will have to be relocated as UNRA curves out access roads to these routes.
Constructing the second bridge on River Nile at Jinja - estimated to cost US$ 102 million - is yet to begin next financial year.

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