KAMPALA/UGANDA – Kampala remains the biggest and main city of Uganda with a population of about 1,353,000 people. The capital city also remains the country’s economic hub, accounting for about 80% of Uganda’s industrial and commercial activities and generating around 60% of the national GDP.
To realize this, the city’s road network needs to be kept in a motorable condition for easy transportation of goods, and provide access to employment, social, health, and education services thus fighting against poverty in the long run.
The above is contained in a statement the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director, Ms. Dorothy Kisaka, read to the press this morning at City Hall.
After her interaction with the press, she spoke to MediaScape News on the sidelines for our trademark five-question newsmaker interview in which she highlighted the areas that need concentration if the city is to continue playing its crucial role of contribution to socio-economic development.
MediaScapeNews: What are Kampala’s road network coverage and status?
Kisaka: Well, the city has 2,100 km of roads, of which only 600 km are paved or tarmacked but 1,500 km are not paved. Call them gravel.
MediaScape News: Is this not a crisis given the growing population?
Kisaka: I would say yes it is. Look; about 360 km of roads are old and have been patched too many times. Experts say, on average, a paved road is expected to last 15 – 20 years before reconstruction. The 360km in Kampala is over 35 – 40 years old. They need overhauling, they have outlived their lifetime
MediaScape News: How much money would be enough for the Authority to keep these roads in a good state?
Kisaka: KCCA needs an average of UGX 100 billion per year just to maintain the roads in a motorable condition. This includes the management of street lights, traffic lights, road safety, and walkways. We currently receive only 26 billion per year to maintain the roads.
MediaScape News: What about road reconstruction?
Kisaka: For road reconstruction and road upgrading or overhauling, we need on average UGX 375 billion per year to be able to redeem at least 50 km of dead roads per year. That way, we can be sure that in seven years, the old roads will be better. There is no doubt we need new roads in Kampala.
MediaScape News: Why do we see the city flooded often in wet seasons, is the authority sleeping on the job?
Kisaka: We are not sleeping on the job but there are poor waste disposal practices that overstrain our roads. Residents throw polythene and organic food into drainages and they get blocked and our teams are constantly on the roads to unblock them.
The drainages must be worked on because many pour out silt that blocks waterways. Also, the historical construction in wetlands and narrow roads have ruined waterways but the new roads that are going to be constructed beginning next year will be wider including drainages, walkways, and streetlights.
We are, therefore, boldly asking the government to prioritize Kampala and avail us of a larger budget for roads in the city so that we can realize a Smart City agenda. The consumptive budget cannot build a Smart city.
We need to invest in infrastructure significantly to create the capital city we dream of. The problem is not management, we know what to do and the plans are there. We need funding.