USMID projects changing face of western region

A boda boda cyclist rides on Mcallister road in Mbarara City. The road was constructed under Phase One of the USMID project. PHOTO/FELIX AINEBYOONA

What you need to know:

The projects include a central market, taxi and bus parks and rehabilitation of some of the roads in the various municipalities

Western Uganda is one of the regions that have benefitted from the World Bank’s funded Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) project extended to local governments to improve municipalities through infrastructure development.

Funding for the works is being channeled through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and that of Local Government to municipalities to boost infrastructural development through improved roads, water drainage systems, markets, abattoirs, and street lights.
The World Bank programme became effective in Uganda on September 2013 and has enhanced institutional performance of municipal governments as well as improved effective service delivery.

In western region, the programme initially benefited Mbarara and Kabale municipalities, but has been rolled out to Ntungamo Municipality.
More municipalities including Ibanda, Bushenyi, Sheema, Kisoro, and Rukungiri are lobbying for consideration in the next phase.
Currently, the World Bank has earmarked Shs17b for the construction of a central market, a bus park, 2.7km stretch roads and installation of street lights in Ntungamo Municipality.

Hopeful
A joint venture of Multiplex Ltd-Ditaco companies has been contructed for the works.
Implementation of the projects was scheduled to commence in the Financial Year 2019/2020, but were hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the project engineer, Mr Vitus Kyeyune.
He said the same Covid -19 restrictions issued recently are delaying commencement of the project.

 Mr Jacob Kafureka Jaka Jex, the Ntungamo municipality mayor, said: “Undertaking projects like market construction and the bus and taxi park terminals, we need to save for more than 10 years. Paving our roads also requires a lot of money.  We are, however, excited that this project has been launched. It will definitely change the face of our town and make us proud.”
Mr Banex Niwamanya, the Ntungamo municipality principal finance officer, says while the funding is lower than anticipated, there will be a breakthrough in developing major infrastructure.

“As a Municipality, we have held brainstorming meetings to strategise on how to develop these structures like the current Central market, which is more or less good for demolition. We have not been able to develop our taxi and bus park because our local revenue is low. Shs17b for specific projects is not little,” Mr Niwamanya says.
The Ntungamo Municipality Central Market Vendors Association chairperson, Mr John Basigi, says the development will create a better working environment for market vendors.

“The facility will have modern toilets, women changing rooms, children play rooms and a breastfeeding centre, parking and other facilities,” he said.
Unlike Ntungamo Municipality, Mbarara Municipality is advancing to the third phase of the project.
 In May, a Shs23b roads’ project was commissioned for Mbarara City. The project includes construction, beautification and street lighting of three city roads which include Stanley road (0.78 kilometres), Maj Victor Bwana road (0.95 kilometres), and Galt road (0.63 kilometres).

In the first lot, construction works on Akiiki Nyabongo road, McAllister road, and Buremba road commenced.
The second phase had Bucunku road, Bishop Wills road, Mbaguta Street, Machansingh, and Bishop Wills road constructed. The Mbarara Central market is also being constructed as part of the project.
Presiding over the commissioning of the project in Mbarara at the end of May, then Minister of State for Urban Development, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, said the construction of major roads outside the main town streets is a major step in ensuring proper planning.

He said leaders need to plan effectively and cautiously in order to have organised settlements, livable cities and towns and a conducive environment for business and settlement.  
 “We don’t want to make mistakes as it was with Kampala City during its expansion. Right away as we develop these new cities, we need to appreciate physical planning and have planned and organised settlements. That is why besides funding, we are giving you human resources like urban development specialists and planners,” Dr Baryomunsi, the Kinkizi East MP, who was recently promoted to Minister of ICT and National Guidance, said.

He says the project will go a long way in uplifting the outlook of towns, aid in proper planning, drainage and consequently lead to organisation in the growing cities.
Sharing about the projected opportunities in Mbarara, residents said the value of their land has gone up.
Mr Kassim Mugamba, a resident of Biafra Kakiika Ward, said: “We are now experiencing a surge in the number of people coming to buy plots and business has also improved.”

 A concern has, however, been raised over the cost of the infrastructure developed under the project.
The preplanned industrial zone will be shifted after completion of the new roads. Formerly allocated to Maj Victor Bwana, the small scale industries will be shifted 5km away from town to Kolanolya according to the City Clerk Theo Tibihika.

In Kabale, three roads of Rushoroza, Bwankosa and Bushekwire will be constructed under the Shs21.72b project.
 In 2018, the World Bank funded project did four roads of Nkunda, Keita, Nyerere road and Nyerere Avenue and Kigongi road using Shs25b. They have also constructed the Kabale central market, which will soon be completed according to the mayor, Mr Sentaro Byamugisha. All the roads shall have security lighting and general beautification.

Bushenyi, Ibanda miss out
 While Ishaka- Bushenyi and Ibanda Municipalities are among the largest municipalities in area of coverage and population in the country, they have not been considered for the project funding.
Mr David Tweheyo Betega, the Ishaka- Bushenyi Municipal town clerk, says while they have been lobbying to be included among beneficiaries, internal divisions and infighting between the council and technical staff has frustrated their effort.
“The leaders here have over the years engaged in fights instead of working for their people. There is no way government could bring USMID projects in a divided area,” he says.

The Rukungiri municipality town clerk, Mr Prosper Tagobya, also hopes for the funding to come forth.
 “We are fortunate we have got a funder for the construction of our central market and we still pray that we are given due consideration in the coming phases. We qualify for the project implementation.” Mr Tagobya says.

About USMID project
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development started implementing the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme, funded by the World Bank-IDA, through a $150m loan for a period of five years from 2013 – 2018. The project was, however, reviewed and added another five years.
The overall programme objective was to enhance the institutional performance of the 14 municipal councils to improve urban service delivery. 

The participating Local Governments at the time were Arua, Lira, Gulu, Soroti, Entebbe, Mbale, Tororo, Jinja, Masaka, Hoima, Fort portal, Mbarara, Kabale, and Moroto.
The geographical coverage of the programme was later extended to eight additional municipal local governments of Kitgum, Kamuli, Mubende, Kasese, Busia, Ntungamo, Apac and Lugazi and also introduced support to 8 districts of Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe, Arua, Isingiro, Kiryandongo, Kamwenge and Lamwo. The second phase of the project cost $360m. 

Compiled by Perez Rumanzi, 
Rajab Mukombozi, Felix Ainebyona, 
Zadock Amanyisa & Robert Muhereza