Mukono road works resume as authorities lift ban on Chinese contractor

The Mukono Municipal Council has lifted the suspension of China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), a Chinese firm hired to construct nine roads in the area. The firm had been suspended due to non-compliance with the terms of their contract.

According to Mr Francis Byabagambi, Mukono Municipal Town Clerk, the firm was penalised for consistently failing to meet contract conditions, technical guidelines, and environmental and social safeguards.

In a letter dated March 7, 2025, addressed to CCCC Authorised Representative, Xiong Pailiang, MrByabagambi stated that the firm was suspended due to their failure to comply with the terms of their contract.

However, during a press conference in Mukono Town on Wednesday, Mr. Byabagambi said the contractor had accepted to address all the irregularities cited in the suspension letter. "Recognition has been made of the contractor's effort to proactively provide response to the issues raised in our aforementioned letter. The response matrix is an outcome of a series of engagements through which CCCC's progress to address our concerns to environmental and social safeguards compliance was successively assessed," he said.

CCCC is responsible for constructing 8.3 kilometers of roads under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP), a project coordinated by the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, and funded by the World Bank. The contract is valued at Shs46 billion and covers roads such as Anthony-Kame Road, Kame Annex Road, Albert Cook-Cathedral Rise Road, Kame-Nabuti-Katosi Road, Admin Link Road, Access Road, and Link Road.

On February 28, 2025, the contractor's local employee, Ambrose Niwamanya, tragically lost his life after sustaining serious injuries when a wheel loader rolled him down into a trench at Cathedral Rise Road. The Municipal Town Clerk held a joint press briefing with the contractor on March 7, 2025, where he emphasized the importance of ensuring that all safety safeguards are in place. Byabagambi also called for compensation for the deceased's family following ongoing police investigations.

"In our investigations, we found that the deceased was hit by a wheel loader, and the bulkage by the wheel loader operator on-site was a factor. We immediately reported the incident to the relevant authorities, including the police, to commence investigations. Anyone found liable will be dealt with by the law. Several engagements with the family are also underway to ensure compensation is provided through the insurance," Mr Byabagambi stated.

Residents of Mukono Municipality have expressed concerns about the slow progress of the projects, noting that the contractor may take up to 18 months to complete the work. "If the contractor is not pressured to expedite the work, these roads will become a tool for opposition politicians in the upcoming general elections," said Mr. Ronald Ssentongo, a resident of Nabuti Village.

The Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP) is a government-World Bank initiative aimed at improving urban mobility, environmental conditions, and local economic development. The programme covers the nine entities of Kampala Capital City Authority, Mukono, Wakiso, and Mpigi districts, as well as the municipalities of Mukono, Kira, Nansana, Entebbe, and Makindye-Ssabagabo.

Of the total funds, 85 percent—approximately $517 million (about Shs1.9 trillion)—will be spent on roads, $50 million (Shs184.4 billion) on drainage systems, with the remaining funds allocated to markets and other infrastructure projects.