For about five years now the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) continues to take a lion’s share of public resources, with Ministry of Works and Transport Budget Framework Paper indicating the roads authority will consume over 60 percent of its budget for transport infrastructure and services.
According to the ministry’s budget breakdown for the FY 2018/19, UNRA has been allocated over Shs3.2 trillion or 68.3 percent of the ministry’s budget.
The ministry itself has been allocated Shs624.632 billion (13.3 per cent), of its budget; the Uganda Road Fund has Shs623.39 billion while local governments have been given Shs22.84 billion (0.5 per cent). Also, the Kampala City Council Authority has been allocated Shs223.60 billion (4.8 per cent) of the Shs4.71 billion budget of the ministry.
The UNRA money will go for land acquisition and construction of Atiak-Moyo-Afoji; Masaka-Bukakata; Mukono-Katosi-Nyenga; Mpigi-Kabulasoka-Maddu; Kapchorwa-Suam; Kyenjojo-Hoima-Masindi-Kigumba; Nyendo-Sembabule; Ishaka-Kagamba; Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara/Busega-Mityana and Mbarara-Katuna Road.
Other roads budgeted for are Hoima-Butiaba-Wanseko; Kampala-Entebbe Express Highway; Musita-Lumino-Busia/Majanji Road; Olwiyo-Gulu-Kumi/Kamonkoli; Kyenjojo-Kabwoya, Rukungiri-Kihihi-Ishasha/Kanungu; Mbale-Bubulo-Lwakhakha and Kampala Flyover.
More roads earmarked in the budget are: Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Acholibur; Soroti-Katakwi-Moroto-Lokitonyala; Kibuye-Busega-Mpigi; Mukono-Kayunga-Njeru; Nakalama-Tirinyi-Mbale; Namunsi-Sironko-Muyembe-Kapchorwa; Nansana-Busunju; Nebbi-Packwach and Iganga-Kaliro.
Others to be worked on using this budget are the Kamwenge-Fort Portal and Fort portal-Kyenjojo. Also budgeted for are works for the new Nile Bridge at Jinja and construction of 66 selected bridges.
