310kms added to road network as UNRA asks for Shs980 billion

The Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) has revealed that it needs Shs980 billion to finance construction works earmarked for the Financial Year (FY) 2019/2020.
This came to light during the release of the Unra’s 2018/2019 performance review at their offices in Nakawa, Kampala, yesterday.
The report says: “…by close of FY 2018/2019, Unra had a debt of Shs474 billion. In addition, the ongoing projects under the government of Uganda developments have a deficit of Shs500 billion in this [current] financial year. This means the allocated budget to the FY 2019/20120 work plan is short by approximately Shs980 billion.”
This according to Unra means: “the planned outputs will be negatively affected.”

The unfolding of the present FY 2019/2020 saw Unra get an allocation of Shs4.2 trillion to cover the recurrent expenditure, maintenance and development of the national road network.
However, the executive director of Unra, Ms Allen Kagina, said a big chunk of this will service the outstanding arrears of Shs474 billion, something the body is mandated to do before embarking on new projects.
“As required by the law, we have to pay debt first before embarking on any new projects,” Ms Kagina said.
Upgrading of projects planned such as Muyembe-Nakapiripiriti road and construction works of Busega-Mpigi Expressway, Soroti-Katakwi-Aksim and Kyenjonjo-Kabwoya, and bridges such as Nsongi, Mpondwe, among others, will be affected.
Rehabilitation projects such as Fort Portal-Kyenjojo road and Nakawa-Seeta road will also be affected.

Kilometres on national grid
The flip-side of the performance-coin glitters with positives registered by the authority with the body having an addition of 310.8kms added to the national grid raising from 20,544kms to 20,856kms in the FY 2017/2018 to FY 2018/2019, respectively.
Ms Kagina said: “the national road network has increased by 310.8kms, down from 20,544kms to 20,856kms in total length. The increase in the national road network is due to the newly constructed roads and other roads that have been reclassified and gazzeted as national roads by the Ministry of Works and Transport.”

They include the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway of 57kms, Kampala-Entebbe Expressway spur to Munyonyo of 28.2kms and Mbarara bypass of 28kms, all of dual carriage.
Others were Kumi-Umateng-Agule road of 15kms, Toroma-Kokorio road of 12kms, Karenga-Birra road of 30kms, Old Depoth bridge access road of 5kms, Lorachat-Magoro road of 59kms and Aliodranusi-Gobolo-Matu-Kerwa-Kei road of 76kms.

“In addition, there are 661 major structures, comprising 424 bridges and 237 box culverts on the national road network,” Ms Kagina said.
She explained the delayed collections meant to be done on the Kampala Entebbe Expressway saying the procurement process had dragged it behind.
“We anticipate to begin collecting tolls in January 2020. However, we are now going to communicate to the public so that they are informed,” Ms Kagina said.

Challenges
The director of roads and bridges, Mr Sam Muhoozi, said they had a challenge with local contractors whose performance was rated as average.
He, however added: “We are engaging government through the Ministry of Works and Transport to make sure these people can gain access to affordable loans and get equipment at a subsidised amount.”

FY 2019/2020 BUDGET

Recurrent Amount
Wage 71,105,192,984
Non-wage 27,346,930,529
Subtotal 98,452,123,513

Development
Government of Uganda
1,744,551,860,714
External Financing
2,176,064,928,763
Subtotal 3,920,616,789,477

Maintenance-Uganda road Fund
270,000,000,000

Grand total
4,289,068,912,990

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