The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has handed over three multi-billion contract documents to two Chinese companies for the upgrading and construction of three roads to a tune of UGX500 billion.
The contract signing ceremony was officiated by UNRA Executive Director Allen Kagina on Tuesday, September 8, at the UNRA Headquarters in Kampala.
The roads are; Kira-Matugga road, the upgrading of Najjanankumbi-Busabala road (11km) with two signalized junctions and solar powered lighting, and the rehabilitation of Masaka Town roads starting along the Kampala-Masaka highway.
The Kira-Matugga road which was handed over to Chongqing International Construction Corporation (CICO) will cost over Shs200 billion and expected to be finished within 36 months.
The new improvements will have provisions of two-metre segregated pedestrian walkways and two-metre segregated cycle lane on each side of the road and boda-boda stages at each of the signalized junctions along Kyaliwajjala-Matugga road together with solar powered lighting along the entire length of the road.
“The land acquisition process for Kira-Matugga road is ongoing and is being managed by the UNRA in-house team. A total of 6.5 km of the right of way have been acquired representing 56.12 percent of the total land area required and the entire right of way is expected to be acquired by June 2021,” said Mrs Kagina.
The rehabilitation of Masaka Town roads with a bitumen surfaced link starting along the Kampala-Masaka highway and terminating on Masaka-Mbarara Highway will cost Shs50 billion. This will help reduce on vehicle operating costs and improve the flow of traffic from Nyendo Trading Center to Masaka Central Business District.
“During construction for the Masaka roads, local people; on average over 200 locals will benefit from employment opportunities working on the road sites and/or various economic activities to support the construction works,” stated Ms Kagina.
The upgrading of Najjanankumbi-Busabala road (11km) with two signalized junctions and solar powered lighting will cost Shs258 billion and this will help reduce dust nuisance along the road and the related health hazards.
“On a very special note, UNRA would like to note that this is an example of a project where we have successfully partnered with the communities along the road corridor to realise a public good. This has been ably exhibited by the Project Affected Persons willingly offering land for the right of way without being compensated. We commend and applaud this community and its leadership for this spirit of partnership,” stated Ms Kagina.
