By Our Reporter
Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Physical Infrastructure Committee have raised concerns about the UGX 50 billion that Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has allocated for the construction of 3.7 kilometers of selected roads in the city, with each kilometer estimated to cost approximately UGX 15 billion.
The issue was highlighted by Sarah Opendi (Tororo DWR) during a review of KCCA’s 2024/26 Ministerial Policy Statement on April 2, 2023. Opendi specifically pointed to the costs associated with roads such as Ben Kiwanuka Street, Rashid Khamis Road, and Matia Mulumba Road, questioning the justification for the high expenses.
“Construction and upgrading of 3.7 kilometers of roads in Kampala—Ben Kiwanuka Street (1.4 km), Rashid Khamis Road (0.8 km), and Matia Mulumba Road (1.3 km)—will cost a total of UGX 50 billion. When you break this down, it amounts to about UGX 15 billion per kilometer. I need to understand: what type of road works are we talking about?” Opendi asked.
She further questioned whether the costs covered the roads themselves, drainage systems, or additional infrastructure. “At UGX 15 billion per kilometer, what exactly are we funding? Is it the road alone, or does it include drainage and other infrastructure? In many areas, the roads are already functioning well,” she added.
Allan Atugonza (Buliisa County) also sought clarification on why the cost of road construction in Uganda is among the highest in the region, noting, “Does this cost include drainage systems or waste management? When we approve projects, we often end up with narrow roads, no drainage, and a request for additional funding. If we compare these costs with other countries in the region, Uganda is the highest. We expect drainage, waste management, and street lighting in road construction projects.”
Kyofatogabye Kabuye, the Minister of State for Kampala Capital City Authority and Metropolitan Affairs, responded by informing the Committee that the Ministry of Works and Transport is conducting a study on the unit cost of road construction. This study, once completed, is expected to provide a standard cost benchmark for the government.
“The study on unit costs is ongoing, and the Ministry of Works and Transport is collaborating with KCCA. Once completed, it will give us a standard unit cost for road construction,” Kyofatogabye said.
Opendi also criticized the slow pace of road construction in Kampala, pointing out that it would take two years to complete just 3.7 kilometers of roads in such a congested city.
“There’s a delay in the construction of selected roads like Ben Kiwanuka, Rashid Khamis, and Old Kampala. The work is set to start on April 8, 2022, yet the expected completion date is over a year later, for just 3 kilometers of road. This delay is concerning. I can walk 3 kilometers in 20 minutes. Why does it take a year to complete such a short stretch?” Opendi asked.
In response, Minister Kyofatogabye dismissed concerns about the slow progress, insisting that all ongoing contracts were still within their designated timeframes.
“All ongoing projects in the city are progressing according to their timelines. No contract has exceeded its timeframe, and all works are scheduled to be completed by 2026,” Kyofatogabye clarified.
Opendi raised another issue concerning the duration of some road projects, such as Kira Road (4.5 kilometers of dual carriageway), which is set to be completed by September 30, 2026, and Ntake Road, which spans 3 kilometers. She found the timeline “disturbing,” particularly for short stretches of road.
“This is disturbing. Why does it take over a year to complete a 3-kilometer stretch of road? Are we anticipating a lack of funds? Where is the problem?” Opendi asked.
Another issue raised by Opendi was the poor quality of drainage systems in some areas. She pointed out that culverts installed by KCCA were often inadequate to handle the volumes of water in certain locations, leading to frequent washouts.
“We toured some roads and noticed that the culverts placed on certain roads were too small for the volume of water that flows through them. As a result, they get washed away during heavy rains, causing damage to the road. We need to ensure that proper assessments are done to match drainage capacity with the expected water volume in these areas,” Opendi stated.
She added, “In areas like Makindye and Nakawa, the drainage systems look good during dry weather, but once the rains come, it becomes evident that they were poorly designed. Can KCCA ensure that proper studies are done to assess water flow before installing drainage systems?”
