The unending notorious inflating of costs for rehabilitation of 10 roads in Kampala have gained a new twist.
Following lord mayor Erias Lukwago’s raising of the ed flags, theDeputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has now summoned Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, the Minister incharge of Kampala Capital City and metropolitan area to come and explain to Parliament.
Tayebwa wondered why the ongoing workd are just patching of roads yet the passed a loan of $288m (1.06tn) for reconstruction of these roads.
It should be understood that KCCA is apparently rehabilitating wach kilometer of the 69.9km Kampala roads at Shs14.4Bn an issue that has raised alarm across the country.
“I remember in the 10th Parliament we passed a loan of over $200m for rehabilitation of over 27 roads in Kampala,” sad Tayebwa,
“We handled this loan expeditiously and it has now taken over two years. What we see is patching. The loan was not for patching, it was for reconstruction of the roads,”
Kampala State Minister Kabuye Kyofatogabye on Thursday told Reporters tha Lukwago is not “informed” thus commenting on the issue with an ignorant mind.
However the tough talking Tayebwa on Friday said its unbelievable that KCCA is just patching the roads yet the loan was meant for proper reconstruction of these roads.
Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, he sad should come and explain the continuing existence of potholes in most of the roads in Kampala.
The Deputy Speaker who sat on the Committee on National Economy that scrutinized all loan requests in the 10th Parliament, tasked the Committees of Parliament not to wait for matters being raised on the floor of the House, but should carry out routine oversight of the different Ministries, Departments and Agencies under them.
“The Minister will also be required to come here and give a report to this House (about the progress of those roads)” he directed.
The loan in question was acquired from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Development Fund which was aimed at funding the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project (KCRRP).
The project, according to information on the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) website, was planned to increase the stock and quality of strategic infrastructure in order to accelerate Uganda’s competitiveness.
KCCA is supposed to implement the project for 48 months effective July 2021 with objectives of; enhancing transport efficiency; improving air quality in the city through implementation of Scheduled Eco-Bus transit Services and broadening travel choices for non-vehicular movements within Kampala by expanding networks of walkways and cycling tracks.
