Kampala roads: Have we reached panic mode?

COMMENT | Samson Tinka |  I left Entebbe road for a meeting in Bugolobi. I branched off at Stella-Najjanakumbi via Busabala road, Calendar House down to Nsambya, Mukwano road, Industrial area 7^th street, Mulwana road to Luthuli Avenue, which was our meeting point. All through this journey, I kept wondering why Kampala roads have since turned into ditches of sorts. A journey of 13kms took me 55minutes.

Both Mulwana & Mukwano roads were named after the two best entrepreneurs in Uganda in the last 30 years. I paused questions to myself, that if it’s true that “the dead are not dead” are these business giants happy and smiling wherever they are?

There are few indigenous companies in Uganda that pay taxes as much as Mukwano and Mulwana group of companies are paying. A few companies have impacted the lives of ugandans like these companies. There is no home in Uganda that does not have a mukwano and Mulwana product. From soap, plastics, toothbrushes, batteries, washing powder etc. Its an embrassement to the memory of these giants.

These two men lived a simple life, they associated their lives with reality. They never lived exaggerated or artificial lives. They built churches, mosques, and other community projects. Having tattered roads named after them is not only a shame but also a national disaster.

Bad roads and increased fuel prices

Whereas increase in fuel prices maybe a matter out of governments hands, having bad roads cannot be blamed on anyone else.  As a results, up to 70% of Ugandans owning cars go to garages twice a year because of accidents associated with driving on narrow roads, indiscipline bodabodas, accidents due to lead cars etc. When you add on Kampala bad roads, going to garages is now a regular budget items for  salon car owners who are hit twice as hard compared to government leaders that are driven in 4WD vehicles.

The only happy people in this road madness are fuel station and  garage owners. Replacement of shock absorbers, brakes, tyres, wheel arraignments etc. Fuel consumed on bad roads is far high than fuel consumed on a good road.

Bad roads frustrates tourism 

There has been a drive to attract tourists and investors to come to Uganda for both vacation and business. I am not sure that there is any serious business owner or tourist who will return to Uganda for either leisure of investment after going through Kampala roads. Remember first impression is the everlasting one. The roads from city center to Investment authority offices in Namanve to URA and to Resort Hotel Munyonyo are all in shambles. These investors will reach their destined offices or hotels when their backs have given way. The next thing in their minds is catch the next flight and look for another country.

The country’s image has been tainted due to the bad roads, followed by flooding. In other countries, the Mayor and ED KCCA would have resigned. Of course the ED has her own excuses but we cannot live in an era of pointing fingures. How comes Jennifer Musisi was able to pull moves on the city infrastructure? Its because she mastered the art of engagement with the resource givers?

UNRA should focus on Kampala Roads

Recently, ED-UNRA shared the scheduled roads to be worked on. Quite a number of them are countryside. According to the Uganda National Roads Authority executive director Allen Kagina, the roads include the long awaited Kisubi- Nakawuka, Nateete road, Nakawuka –Kasanje-Mpigi road,  Mbulamuti –Kamuli-Bukungu road which covers 127 Km, Iganga Bulopa Kamuli road, Kawuku Bwerenga road, Koboko –Yumbe –Moyo road and Kabale-Lake Bunyonyi and Kisoro Mgahinga road among others . Yes, these wanaichi from upcountry deserve to have better roads but Kampala should be a priority.  I expect cabinet to advise UNRA to cease works on other roads and deploy its work force, resources, equipment and energies on Kampala at least for the next 24 months. Kampala no longer has the look of a capital city; it is ugly, disorganized and deserted by its leaders.

It’s true the resource envelope for the country is limited. Road construction is expensive of course and made worse because of the corruption of the project managers and executors. The way government mobilized billions to fight COVID, in a time of panic, should be the same way to deal with Kampala roads. We should get into panic mode.

This therefore is a call to President Yoweri Museveni. As you have always done, you can fix this problem. The sh5 billion you directed to be released did nothing. We don’t feel it, we don’t see its work. Use your guerrilla tactics and fix Kampala roads otherwise, the bad roads will impact on which way the city voteis in 2026 elections.