1. business and industrial
2. construction

Rd project to open Musita-Lumino-Majanji-Busia country side
ISSUE 32, OCTOBER 2014
Ntungamo-Kagitumba Road
upgrade kicks-off
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Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
Contents
6
6
Paved road to facilitate trade
8
10
Byabagambi hails British support on roads
11
New road to open
Musita-Lumino-Majanji-Busia countryside
12
Gavel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station
23
UNRA to deliver 4km Namanve Road
24
26
28
Roads in the News
7
Progress, Mbarara-Kikagate-Murongo Bridge road project
23
Kamdin-Gulu Rd in construction gear
UNRA update; October 2014
10
19
7
17
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The Roads Magazine
3
FOREWORD
Ntungamo-Mirama Hills Rd for broader trade
T
Dan Kitakule Alinange
UNRA’s strategic direction
Head of Corporate Communications
4
he upgrading of Ntungamo- particularly as the Ntungamo population whose
R u h a a m a - K a g i t u m b a / communities the road traverses is conscious of
Mirama Hills gravel road to their self-development potential.
UNRA national standards has Further heartening is the involvement of
commenced, bringing to the TradeMark East Africa, among whose
stated objectives is to stream line and ease
fore and highlighting a number of issues.
The project is a product of Uganda government transportation, thereby reducing the cost of
policy of investing in roads infrastructure to ease doing business necessary for nation building.
and facilitate trade and commerce and service This is in keeping with TradeMark’s belief
delivery to all Ugandans. The British support in ‘increased physical access to markets,
reflects the European Union’s infrastructure enhanced trade environments, and improved
development support to this country in furthering business competitiveness--to contribute to
regional economic integration in a buildup to the increased economic growth and subsequent
greater eastern Africa and great lakes region poverty reduction’.
TradeMark’s ideals are indeed those of the
market.
The road project is a shorter access to the European Union, ‘a desire for an integrated East
Republic of Rwanda than the better known Africa with flourishing trade, strong investment
Ntungamo-Kabale-Katuna link, also supported and less poverty,’ hence its financial support.
by the European Union, whose reconstruction is We are grateful to the British government that
has made possible TradeMark’s support to this
about complete.
For the last six years, communities traversed by project.
UNRA’s roads upgrading projects have seized
the opportunities the efficiency of transportation
offers to better their lives. Small-time producers
have learnt to produce more and improve
the quality of their produce for the market.
Consumer goods manufacturers’ markets have
broadened and the outreach of various service
providers increased.
In other words, the resultant benefits from this Dan Kitakule Alinange
project need not only be inter-state but localized Head, Corporate Communications-UNRA
Mandate
To manage the provision
and maintenance of the
national roads network in
a more efficient/effective
manner and render
advisory services to the
government on roadsrelated matters
Vision
To efficiently
manage a safe
and well-developed
national roads
network
Mission
To develop and
maintain a safe
national roads
network that fosters
the economic
development of
Uganda.
Grand Strategies
•
•
Improve the condition of the
national roads network, to
ensure all year-round safe
and efficient movement of
people and goods
Improve institutional capacity
and corporate governance.
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
Rd project to open Musita-Lumino-Majanji-Busia country side
PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE
ISSUE 32, OCTOBER 2014
Tororo-Mbale-Soroti Road; insults cease
A
lot has been said in regard to
the reconstruction of TororoMbale-Soroti Road along
which I am a regular traveler.
Many voices, for the most
part critical and bordering on slander, have been
fault-finding, discouraging and derogatorily
vilifying for the duration of the implementation
of this project.
Not anymore as the more than 95mile project
comes to an end; the reason is that the road
has been brought to a good condition.
While it comes natural for one to express themselves with unbounded energy when their
feelings are stirred, I would rather think it should
be equally as natural to put one’s thoughts to
the learning of the causes of what one finds so
offending.
With a proper understanding of the issues
at hand, one would then not need to expend
energy crafting slurs and imputing improper
motives upon otherwise well-meaning resultoriented organizations and individuals.
For a good Tororo-Mbale-Soroti Road, I register
my gratitude to Dott Services Ltd, the Contractor
as indeed Uganda National Roads Authority
(UNRA) for this accomplishment.
It is now up to us the road users to show cause
for our demand for a good road.
Ntungamo-Kagitumba Road
upgrade kicks-off
e; UNRA Mpigi
Gravel Maintenanc
Station
Cover Picture
Ntungamo-Ruhaama-Kagitumba Road
up-grade. The presidential flag-off at
Ruhaama Sub-County. Inset is Symbolic
ground-breaking.
Coordinator
JUSTIN.K. OJANGOLE
jojangole@haiagency.com
0772 408 915/ 0702 408 915
Editorial, Photo Editing
PAUL MUGABI
paul.mugabi@gmail.com
0752 529 335
SHARON M. OMURUNGI
omurungism@gmail.com
Sales & Marketing
KOSTA OPOLOT
jkosta@haiagency.com
GEORGE E.OMODING
Justin K. Ojangole
Publisher
UNRA roads are ever
improving; KampalaMasaka Road.
Contributors
PRESIDENTIAL PRESS UNIT (PPU)
JOEL OGWANG
WANYAMA ORLANDERSON
Design & Layout
STEPHEN SEGAWA
mbsegawa@gmail.com
0772 589 190
For further information,
Please contact:
HAI Agency Uganda Limited
JK Building after
Tuskys Supermarket Ntinda
P.O. Box 24413, Kampala Uganda
Tel: +256 414 223507 / +256 772 408915
E-mail: jojangole@haiagency.com
Website: www.haiagency.com
Monthly Publication
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this publication are not
necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher does
not guarantee the accuracy of content from contributors
and advertisers nor accept responsibility of any
statements herein.
Key Success Factors
Values
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Safety
Customer focus
Accountability
Transparency
Excellence
Integrity
Team work
Efficiency
•
•
•
•
•
Attraction/retention of adequate
skilled/experienced personnel
Predictable and adequate financing
Business-like operations
Effective utilization of available
resources
Capacity of Local Contractor and
Consultants
•
•
•
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Research and development of
innovative approaches/technologies
Performance measurement
framework
Zero-tolerance for unethical
practices/corruption
Good relationships/effective
communication with key stakeholders
The Roads Magazine
5
Ntungamo-Ruhaama-Kagitumba Rd upgrade
Paved road to facilitate trade
President Yoweri Museveni has expressed Uganda’s gratitude to
Britain and its Department for International Development, (DFID)
for funding the Ntungamo-Ruhaama-Kagitumba Road upgrade
from gravel to a paved surface.
The President said at Ruhaama Sub-county grounds, the venue
for the project’s ground breaking that by supporting, “This facility
that will facilitate trade, the British government had taken the
right decision. It is a good investment for Ugandans and the East
African region as it is good for our partners in the United States
of America and United Kingdom--they will buy more from us and
we shall buy more from them.”
He said the future of the world is through trade, “Recently
traveling through Europe and USA, I found that there was an
inadequate demand for goods and services, yet in
African the demand is going up. The purchasing
power is still low but growing.”
President Museveni noted that the proportion of
Ugandans in the money economy is still low; the
2002 census revealed that only 32% of the population
was in the cash economy, the rest in subsistence, only
growing food to meet domestic needs, without bothering about
money. He therefore urged every family to engage in commercial
agriculture and benefit from roads upgrade like this one.
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Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
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5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
An array of Zhongmei
road construction equipment.
Applauding the President after commissioning Ntungamo-Kagitumba Rd upgrade.
An elderly partisan.
TradeMark’s Allen Asiimwe, UNRA’s Angela
Kiryabwire, UK High
Commissioner Alison
Blackburne and TradeMark’s David Stanton.
“Prophets of doom have
been put to shame; the
road project has taken
off,’’ Ruhaama MP Janet
Museveni.
2
The Roads Magazine
7
Ntungamo-Ruhaama-Kagitumba Rd upgrade
Byabagambi hails British support on roads
Works State Minister John Byabagambi has said and
Uganda government and people are grateful for Trade
Mark East Africa and British Department For International
Development (DFID) for supporting Ntungamo-RuhaamaKagitumba gravel road upgrade to tarmac. The road
project, an artery of the Northern Corridor, is costing
UShs75bn of which Uganda government contributing
50% and Trade Mark DFID the other 50%
Zhongmei Engineering Group is the Contractor.
Hon Byabagambi noted that the European Union and
Uganda’s other development partners have assisted
Uganda government rehabilitate the Northern Corridor
Route. Malaba/Busia-Bugiri Road reconstruction has
been completed earlier this year; Masaka-Mbarara Road
was completed in 2012 and Kampala-Masaka Road
completion is due before the end of 2014. Works on
Mbarara Bypass are underway while Buteraneiro-Katuna
section completion is due by June 2015.
Ntungamo-Ruhaama-Kagitumba 37km road upgrade to
will deliver a 7m wide road with 1.5m-wide shoulders
and 2.75m-wide parking lanes. Built-up areas will have
3.5m-wide parking lanes and 2m-wide raised shoulders.
The Minister gave government’s assurance that every
project affected person shall be equitably compensated.
‘Deliver the road on time, at cost,’ Hon John Byabagambi seems
to urge Eng. Han Dongling, a Zhongmei Executive.
TradeMark support to Uganda roads
TradeMark East Africa’s Director General, David
Stanton has noted that Ntungamo-RuhaamaKagitumba road will be a strong link between
Uganda and Rwanda at the western end of the
Northern Corridor Route. He congratulated Uganda
government for rehabilitating the northern corridor
into a viable transport corridor and noted that the
investment in modernising transport infrastructure
will trigger the region’s prosperity.
TradeMark East Africa and the Department
for International Development (DFID) is
contributingUS$22m towards the upgrade
construction expected to last 18 months up to
April 2016. British High Commissioner in Uganda,
Ms. Alison Blackburn and TradeMark East Africa
Uganda Country Director, Ms Allen Asiimwe were
among the dignitaries at the October 6, 2014
8
TradeMark East Africa Director
General David Stanton, “The
road will promote trade.’’
Ruhaama Sub-county road’s ground-breaking
ceremony.
“Prices in Uganda are high due to the high costs
of transportation in the country…42 per cent of
the cost of goods in Kampala represent the cost of
transport from Mombasa. Trade Mark East Africa
is therefore keen on helping the government to
drive down these costs,” Stanton thus explained
TradeMark involvement in the road’s upgrade.
He also argued that this TradeMark East Africa
support should significantly reduce the time and
cost of transporting goods to Rwanda through
Mirama Hills one stop border post, “Freight costs/
kilometre in the east African region are more than
50% higher than those in the United States and
Europe. For landlocked countries, transport costs
can be as high as 45% of the value of exports.”
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
British High Commissioner,
Alison Blackburne
The British Department for International
development (DFID) collaboration
with Uganda has enabled UNRA to
reduce the unit cost of a paved road
construction from about US$1.2m/km
to US$700’000/km. DFID facilitates
UNRA’s engagement of an independent
consultancy that evaluates its
procurement process and functions
as the benchmark of the procurement
outcomes. This has ensured less than
5 per cent divergence from what the
Independent Bid Evaluation (IDBE)
recommends, hence improved the
confidence of service providers in UNRA’s
activities and reduced the frequency of
challenges to UNRA’s processes. The
procedure has increased the pace at
which UNRA delivers services.
“DFID support has helped reduce
roads construction costs,’’ UK
High Commissioner Alison
Blackburne.
The Roads Magazine
9
Progress, Mbarara-Kikagate-Murongo
Bridge road project
The 67km Mbarara-Kikagati-Murongo Bridge road project,
inclusive of 7km Isingiro-Mabona loop has been a gravel road
(in the South Western Uganda), through Mbarara and Isingiro
Districts to Tanzania at Murongo Bridge border, across the
Akagera River. The road begins at the Mbarara Municipal
Council signpost at the interface where the road construction
changes from paved to gravel. It effectively connects Uganda to
Tanzania and Rwanda.
10
This road’s upgrade project, a design and build contract is being
executed by China Communications Construction Company
(CCCC) Ltd with a construction period of 36 months. COWI A/S
and COWI Uganda Ltd, in association with Multiplan consulting
Engineers are providing consultancy services for design review,
and management of the work contract and construction works
supervision.
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
New road to open Musita-LuminoMajanji-Busia countryside
E
conomic development through Musita,
Lumino and Majanji sleepy country-side
has a realistic prospect for catching
up with the rest of the country, when
the 50km road project traversing it is
completed in 2017.
Musita-Lumino-Majanji road traverses the five districts of
Mayuge, Iganga, Bugiri, Namayingo, and Busia, stemming
from Musita on Jinja-Iganga Highway.
The execution of this UShs200b project contracted to M/s
China Railway 18th Breau Group Co. Ltd, will commence
at the end of 2014 and will be completed in August 2017.
In the current state of the road, the transportation of local
agricultural produce to the market in Jinja, Iganga, Busia,
Bugiri districts and in Kenya, and Tanzania is a struggle.
For the most part though, the road transports goods from
Kenya and Tanzania to the different parts of Uganda.
However, the sale of sugarcane, jackfruit, charcoal,
avocado, fish, and makeshift roadside eateries represent
the local economy.
A few taxis operate Musita-Lumino trading centre route
that motorcycles rather dominate at UShs20,000 one way.
Thirteen trading centres sprawl along the road; Musita,
Lugolole, Muyuge town council, Mpungwe, Bwalula,
Nankoma, Muterere, Mayuge Bukooli, Kifuyo, Namayingo
town council, Lunyo, and Lumino.
Faisal Edinana, a boda boda operator at Musita stage,
says road accidents have increased because the existing
gravel road surface is slippery and poorly drained which
thugs take advantage of to harass travellers.
Kibila Bashir, a businessman in Mayuge trading centre,
says if the road is upgraded, transport costs could reduce
and the people in the area would boost their household,
“About 98 percent of our people depend on agriculture
but the road network is poor yet Mayuge is a food basket
of Jinja, Iganga, and other neighbouring areas.”
Kibila also says the businessmen have resorted to
transporting their goods on water across Lake Victoria to
Jinja, Tanzania, and Kenya for a better market, denying
people along this road an opportunity to benefit from
transportation.
Nuulu Nankwanga, a restaurant operator in Lumino
trading centre in Busia District, says an improved road
network will enable many undertakings to thrive, “This will
also create employment opportunities for the youth.”
Musita-Lumino-Busia Rd
through Liyimbi forest
The Roads Magazine
11
Gavel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station
Clearing Mpigi Roads reserves
W
orking in conjunction
with the Land
Protection Police,
UNRA Mpigi Station
is clearing BusegaMityana Road reserve of illegal structures. The
Station Engineer, Matovu Musisi says, “We are
sensitizing people that the road reserve is set
aside for future developments of a road. By
running business in the road reserve, people
become a safety hazard to themselves and
other road users.”
He says the most stubborn people were those
dealing in sand, building blocks, slates and
eucalyptus poles. Whereas some have heeded
UNRA’s advice and moved off, many others are
reluctant. “After a grace period of two weeks, a
wheel loader moves in and clears the reserves.
People who have lost realize that operating from
reserves is costly. This is a continuous activity
because if UNRA relaxes even for a week, they
will return,” Eng Matovu notes.
The local politicians’ quest to appease their
perceived voters is something of another
challenge in roads reserves enforcement.
“Our people earn a living by operating from
the reserves,” they argue as the local authorities
collecting dues from roads reserves activities
are not helpful either.
Urged to acquire safe locations for such activities
so that they legitimately collect taxes, the retort is
that they do not have the necessary money, further
reasoning that there would be no customers off
the roads, hence no tax collections.
The Local Authorities’ other omission is to ignore
the Local Government Act requiring a space
of 3m from a road reserve in urban areas and
6m in rural areas. The practice however, is that
developments, whose construction plans are
duly approved by the authorities, are right at
the edge of the reserve. The authorities have
the powers they could enforce if they wanted to.
12
Unacceptable; a development right
at the edge of the road reserve.
Gavel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station
Eng Matovu
Isaac Musisi
Mpigi UNRA Station Engineer Matovu
Musisi, “The priority is to keep the
gravel network open at all times.’’
For more than 20 years, Eng Matovu Isaac
Musisi now UNRA Mpigi Station Engineer has
been working in road construction, starting
with the Ministry of Works he joined as Asst
Eng in 1992. He was elevated to District
Engineer in 1995 and deployed to Hoima
and later Mbale. He was deployed at UNRA
Kampala Station as Station Engineer when
he joined UNRA in 2008; he is at the same
position at UNRA Mpigi Station since Jan
2014, addressing roads network bottlenecks.
A family man, he holds Masters Degrees
in Construction Management, as well as
Transport Planning and Engineering.
UNRA Mpigi Station network traverses
a largely agricultural countryside.
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
Focus on UNRA Mpigi Station
Eng Matovu plea; “You need to treat roads like they are
yours—lest you will not have access to services; roads
should be owned by the people whether working with UNRA
or not.”
“Most of UNRA Mpigi Station network roads are in
a fair to good condition; none is in poor state. We
improved on those that were in poor state during
the last financial year and now concentrating on
improving the drainage through low lying areas
on the gravel network by installing more culverts
and raising roads along the affected stretches,”
Eng Matovu Musisi, the Station Engineer says.
The Station has submitted two term-maintenance
packages; Mpigi-Kasanje-Buwaya (21.5km) road
and Kanoni-Misigi-Mityana (39km) road along
with Mitala Maria-Bulo-Kanoni (30km) road and
Mityana-Busunju (30km) road, for procurement.
The other package for periodic Maintenance
covers Kayabwe-Nkozi-Kabulasoke (45km) road
and Lukolo-Bunjako (13km) road together with
Kabasanda-Kakindu-Zigotti (20.5km) road.
UNRA Mpigi Station in-house roads maintenance
unit has just improved a road stretch of close
to 1km through a papyrus swamp at km 12
from Kanoni along Misigi-Kanoni road. The river
has been trained, 3 culvert lines of 600mm
installed and the road raised by 300mm, over-all
improving on the drainage. A similar intervention
has been planned for Nyanzi Swamp, 25km from
Kanoni with same equipment. The Station has a
roller, grader, 2 tippers, a water tank and wheel
loader-a complete set of UNRA equipment in
a good condition.
Eng Matovu’s plan is that the Station’s next
project is spot gravelling following the grading of
Kanoni-Maddu Road that is already programmed
for upgrading; “We need not allow it to develop
bottlenecks while we wait for the contractor.” A
problematic stretch through Mayanja Swamp
along Nakawuka-Bujuuko-Kakiri Road is also
scheduled for improvement following a wash-out
of some culverts between Bujuuko and Kakiri
settlements.
The swamp is now being de-silted and the
papyrus weed blocked culverts opened in a
comprehensive intervention to protect the road.
Other ongoing drainage improvement interventions
comprise stone pitching along Mpigi-Kasanje
Road and at Sekanyonyi, 18km from Kikonge
along Kikonge-Sekanyonyi-Mate Road in Mityana
district, a stretch of about 600m.
The Station is also carrying out drainage desilting through built-up areas especially close
to Kampala. Eng Matovu explains that people
managing petty businesses between Busega
and Nsangi and Busega and Muduuma treat the
highway drainages as rubbish dumps; they trap
silt when it rains and fill up. “These drainages are
clogged through road-side business day-time
activities. For now this is an in-house activity
while the Station’s bills of quantities for term
maintenance contracts for these roads are still
under procurement,” Matovu explains.
His concern this far is the “shortage of equipment
challenges;” the 700km network requires two
maintenance units to keep it a good motorable
state. The existing one unit will suffice if the
maintenance contracts come on board.”
Kanoni-Misigi-Mityana Road;
motorable but needs engineering
to national standards.
The Roads Magazine
13
Ruhaama Ground-Break
2
1
1.
Local Govt State Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana
in a discussion with Zhongmei’s Eng Han
Dongling.
2. DFID Economist Christine Mugoya, TradeMark
(U) Country Manager Allen Asiimwe
3. Hullos to the VIPs at Ruhaama.
4. UNRA Board Chairperson Angela Kiryabwire,
UK High Commissioner Alison Blackburne,
TradeMark Director General David Stanton.
5. An entertainer receives a Presidential
handshake.
3
6. TradeMark (U) Country Director Allen Asiimwe
and Director General David Stanton, UK High
Commissioner H.E. Alison Blackburne.
7. Hon Naome Kabasharira, Infrastructure
Committee Chairman, Ephraim Gashaga Biraro
H.E. Alison Blackburne, Hon John Byabagambi,
Ms Allen Asiimwe the President and his wife.
8. Ruhaama MP Hon Janet Museveni, received by
UNRA Board Chairperson Angela Kiryabwire.
9. Ugandan spirit ...
10. Celebrating the paving of the road through
Ruhaama Sub-County.
14
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Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
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The Roads Magazine
15
Chebrot urges contractors to be professional
The State Minister for Transport, Hon Stephen Chemoiko Chebrot,
has urged the local contractors to work professionally and desist
from mismanaging their contracts through shoddy work and the
abandoning of sites despite the payment they receive.
He said this practice makes them uncompetitive in the face of
foreign competition.
The Minister said at the 12th edition’s three-day Construction
and Interior Exhibition at Lugogo Show Grounds main hall that
attracted foreign exhibitors from Italy, Israel, Turkey, and Kenya
among others.
“It is gratifying that the scope of exhibitors include companies
engaged in real estate development, road construction, roofing
products, paints and finishes, site equipment and mortgage
solutions,” he said.
He pledged the Ministry of Works and Transport commitment
to address, “All the bottlenecks that hinder the industry to play
its rightful role in making our economy competitive and the
preferred destination for investment.”
Uganda government appreciates the contribution of a developed
infrastructure as the avenue to attracting investment in manufacturing,
the services and ICTS sectors
1
2
3
1.
UNRA’s 2014 Construction exhibition at Lugogo.
2. Interest.
5. Minister Stephen Chebrot records comments on UNRA
2014 construction exhibition.
3. Giving the answers.
6. Appreciating UNRA’s New Nile Bridge artist’s dummy.
4. Curiosity at UNRA’s stall.
7. Absorbing information on UNRA.
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
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6
5
7
The Roads Magazine
17
UNRA Board on Kampala-Entebbe Expressway Project tour
1
2
3
1.
UNRA Board Members on a
working tour.
2. Motorised UNRA Board Members
arrive to see Kampala-Entebbe
Expressway progress.
3. Equipment that drills the piers’
foundations.
4. Robust supports for KampalaEntebbe Expressway bridge over a
wetland.
4
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Gravel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
UNRA Mpigi Station
Force Account operations
The type of freight
on NakiwogoEntebbe ferry
Smoothing out bottlenecks
Jacob Asiimwe is UNRA Mpigi Station Assistant Engineer
for Force Account. He says during Financial year 20142015 first quarter, UNRA Mpigi Station has graded and
carried out medium grading of and sport gravelling
bottleneck areas along 34km Kanoni –Maddu Road.
The populations of the localities the road traverses
are dairy farmers, ranchers and agricultural farmers
(maize). The road connects to Mubende (maize fields)
and leads to Kisozi ranches. Tea growing and timbertree plantations are also local to the area.
Mitala Maria-Bulo-Kanoni 30km Road too, has benefitted
from medium grading and some spot gravelling in the
last quarter of the last Financial Year. Medium grading
is the scarifying of a surface using a motor grader, reshaping, watering and then compacting; light grading
only makes the riding surface smooth.
It has been earmarked for term maintenance, a contract
that is still under procurement. Without any prior periodic
maintenance, it is narrow and its gravel has long washed
away hence the Station’s Force Account plans to work
on it while the term maintenance contractor is procured.
Other drainage improvements are the Jalamba 0.5km+
either side stone pitching.
Mpigi, Butambala, Gomba through Kanoni to Sembabule
are agricultural areas, hence the road is a busy one.
Energoprojekt is upgrading the road from Mpigi to Kanoni.
Kabasima swamp rising
Working with UNRA for 6 years, Road Overseer
Ssemakula Raphael’s work is roads maintenance
entailing, among others, the supervision of grading
The Roads Magazine
19
Gravel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station
during routine maintenance. He has overseen Kabasima
swamp rising, inclusive of river training, three lines of 600mm
culverts installation and 300mm thickness gravelling, and an
intervention that took two weeks to execute along KanoniMpigi-Mityana Road. The 600mm lines at the ends of the
swamp are supporting the initial 900mm culvert lines. Another
intervention would be necessary after 8 months. It is costly
but at the end of the day, we realize it takes more input to
realize the objective. Nyanzi swamp is to benefit from a similar
activity. Following previous rains floods, the swamps had
over-flowed, severing the road and hampering the delivery
of essential services.
Edges repairs
Road Overseer Julius Ahura’s Force Account team is on stone
pitching 700m of drains and repairing Budo-Nakasozi Road
edges. It is also repairing the edges and patching as well as
stone pitching Nabbingo access road from Kampala-Masaka
Highway, significant roads in that they access notable public
institutions. “These are under UNRA jurisdiction. We plan
to have major works on them, like we have done on Nkozi
University and Kako School accesses RCC has executed.
Stone-pitching at Buwaya
Robert Sebabi Kakooza, a Road Inspector is overseeing stone
pitching and installation of 18m of access culverts along
415m stretch on one side of Mpigi-Kasanje-Buwaya Road
into Buwaya where flowing water was eroding the road
edges as the soil in the area is loose. The Force Account
has also carried out medium grading and spot gravelling
on this 21km busy road connecting Mpigi to Entebbe. It
had developed gullies and potholes, being convenient to
sand truckers from Buwaya to Kampala. It is programmed
for paving as a tourism boosting road and planned for term
maintenance. Gabions will be used to reinstate the road’s
width. This important tourist road links Mpigi to Entebbe
through Buwaya Ferry in only 30min.
Building material, especially sand is extracted from Buwaya
area and trafficked along the road on to Nakawuka and
Natete. The only vehicle load control in this area is at Buwama
where a mobile weigh bridge has been installed. Trucks are
per custom overloaded, damaging the road hence quite fast
road failure rate.
Obliterated drains are recovered
Road Overseer Ahura Julius is overseeing de-silting and roads
reserve clearing on Busega-Maya-Kamengo-Lwera Road and
Busega-Mityana Road. Busega-Maya and Kamengo-Lwera
Road de-silting works have this Financial Year been completed,
arresting the erosion of the road especially through Kayabwe.
20
Kabasima Swamp raising.
Sand truckers from Lweera park and spill some of their cargo at Kayabwe
completely obliterating the drains. Busega-Mityana road drainages have also
been dredged; populations in built-up areas tend to dump garbage into road
drains. About km8 from Kampala through Nsangi, the constructions on hill
cause a silt cascade into the road’s drains whenever it rains.
The team has also worked we have worked on roads reserves clearing. The
belief is that business close to the roads is the way. Been working with local
community leaders of Nsangi Sub County and Kamengo, Buwama and Nkozi
Sub Counties-all the local governments from Busega to Lweera response
is positive but Buwaya to Kampala is challenging as people think they must
subsist on the roads and therefore dump garbage. We discuss drains and
the road reserve in Roads Committee interactions; the people are beginning
to appreciate that interfering with the drains and roads reserves is a cost
to roads maintenance.
People along Busega-Maya and Kamengo-Lweera stretches have largely
been responsive to UNRA’s requirement to evacuate road reserves, like
communities along the first ten kilometres from Busega to Mityana. Others
Gravel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
Eng Matovu Musisi and Asst Eng Jacob
Asiimwe at Nabinyonyo gravel borrow pit.
Stone pitching; Mpigi-Buwaya-Kasanje is a
busy road to Entebbe, through Buwaya Ferry.
Kabasima Swamp has been a bottleneck; river
is trained, 3 culvert lines installed, road raised.
along the stretch to Mityana claim they have not received
compensation for their expropriated pieces of land, hence
retain a legitimate claim to the reserve. They nonetheless
appreciate that they will one day leave the reserves.
Parasitic Local Authorities too find it difficult to appreciate that
the roads reserves landlord, UNRA needs to be acknowledged
in the rental of bill-board space. Further, Road Committees
along UNRA network assume UNRA need to facilitate them
arguing they have no budget for their functions; officials at
sub-counties especially demand for ‘facilitation’ to call the
meetings.
Worn-out road repairs
The Force Account is stone-pitching 400m side drain on KikongeSekanyonyi-Mate Road that joins Hoima Road. It is this link
that heavy construction vehicles used to carry material for
Busega-Mityana Road reconstruction. Road Overseer, Balyenti
Gilbert says the road was worn out and has been out of repair.
The road is on a slope, hence easily gullied with the run-off
draining into people’s residences disrupting life in Sekanyonyi
settlement, hence this intervention to redirect the run-off.
The road traverses a maize production area hence it is very
busy during harvest time; it also ferries livestock from KanoniMisigi-Mityana road to Busunju and Mityana.
Nakiwogo Ferry
Jerome Ssewabuga has operated Nakiwogo Ferry, carrying
vehicles, transits food, motorcycles and pedestrian passengers
for the last three years. He notes that 2.5ton sand truckers
tend to load up to 5tons, “We carry four empty trucks, and
only three if loaded, an equivalent of about 15tons besides the
passengers. In all we carry about 25tons against a pay-load
capacity of 60tons. The ferry is in a good shape—engines
are regularly maintained.”
The Roads Magazine
21
Gavel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station
Mpigi Roads reserves
W
orking in conjunction
with Land Protection
Police, Mpigi UNRA
Station is sensitizing
the people along
Busega-Mityana Road that a road reserve is set
aside for the road’s future developments hence
occupying it for business or other activities is a
safety hazard to themselves and the motoring
road users.
UNRA Mpigi Station Engineer, Matovu Musisi faults
local authorities for turning a blind eye to the dictates of
the Local Government Act; “It requires that developers
can only build 3m beyond the road reserve limit in
urban areas and 6m in rural areas. The practice,
however, is that people make development right at
the edge of the reserve, yet their construction plans
are approved by the authorities with the enforcement
powers if they wanted to.”
The most challenging road reserve abuse is the sale
of sand, building blocks and slates and eucalyptus
poles. Some of the encroachers have moved taken
heed and removed themselves while others are
somewhat reluctant to leave in which case UNRA
gives them a two-week’ grace period. “If they do
not respond, UNRA personnel moves in with a wheel
loader and clears whatever stuff they would have
set up on the road reserve without further ado,”
Eng Matovu explains.
With such action, some people operating from road
reserves have incurred losses and realized that
their activities are too costly. Engineer Matovu says,
“This is a continuous activity because once UNRA
relaxes even for a week, the encroachers will be
back on the road reserves.”
He says the enforcement of national roads reserves
is not without challenges from politicians of various
calibers. Political leaders argue that their electorates,
who abuse the roads reserves, are legitimately earning
a living while local authorities that collect dues from
those operations say their eviction would deprive
their local governments’ of revenue.
The Station is also carrying out drainage de-silting
especially close to Kampala in built-up areas between
22
A sprawling sand-dump starts on a road’s shoulder.
Defiant; road reserve guidelines are ignored. Note encircled
UNRA’s road reserve mark post.
Busega and Nsangi and Busega to Muduuma. People managing petty businesses
in these areas use the drainages as rubbish dumps, and when it rains, the drains
get silted.
Eng Matovu says, “UNRA urges such local authorities to acquire safe places
that can be gazzeted for such activities so that they legitimately collect taxes.
For the most part, they say they do not have the money for land and argue that
the affected people would not get customers off the roads, hence tax revenue
would not be forthcoming.”
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
UIA ED Frank Ssebbowa,
Investment Minister Ajedra
Alidru, Roofings Chairman
Mzee Lalani and Works
Minister Abraham Byandala.
UNRA to deliver 4km
Namanve Road
“UNRA is committed to delivering a durable road, supporting the various undertakings in Kampala
Industrial Park,” Eng Ssebbugga-Kimeze said, voicing UNRA’s intent on delivering on its mission.
U
ganda Investment Authority is developing a
well diversified portfolio of Industrial Parks,
with Kampala Industrial and Business Park
the first to be developed and designed to
enable manufacturers to benefit from regional
comparative advantages.
Construction works on the 4km access roads through Kampala Industrial
Park are underway. The roads are constructed to 7.0m wide asphalt
concrete carriageway with 1.0m asphalt concrete shoulders and
associated drainages and safety features.
UNRA Acting ED, Eng Ssebbugga-Kimeze said the authority is
determined to meet the Government’s priority in roads construction
to ensure the reliability of transport infrastructure towards sustainable
economic growth.
With earthworks on roads through Kampala Industrial Park almost
complete, the contractor shall proceed with the placement of the upper
pavement layers that should be completed by April 2015. Aurecon
AMEI Ltd and Spencon–Stirling Joint Venture are the Consultant/
Engineer and Contractor respectively at UShs6bn for the civil works.
Addressing Works and Transport Minister Hon Abraham Byandala
at a press briefing following the inspection and commissioning of
Namanve Industrial Park road project, Eng Ssebbugga-Kimeze noted
that the project road starts from Kampala–Jinja mainline via Uganda
Investment Authority offices and terminates at Roofings Ltd Plant.
He also revealed that the design for the upgrade to a paved standard
of the entire road link from Jokers Hotel to Seeta, a total of 14km
has been completed. Other planned complementary interventions
are Kampala–Jinja Expressway, now under procurement processes
whose construction is expected to start in 2017.
The Roads Magazine
23
Roads in the News
addresing public concerns
UNRA’s vision is to operate a safe, efficient and well-developed national roads network, in
keeping with the mission, “To develop and maintain a national roads network that is responsive
to the economic development needs of Uganda, to the safety of all road users, and to the
environmental sustainability of the national roads corridors.” Thus, UNRA’s Head of Corporate
Communications, Dan K. Alinange herewith responds to public concerns about aspects of
road construction, maintenance, safety and incidental inquiries.
Terego residents protest a dangerous bridge
Daily Monitor, Friday August 8, 2014. Page 29
“Communities of Cilio Parish, Aiivu Sub-county in Arua District plan
say a bridge over Enyau River could collapse if it is not quickly fixed.
It connects Arua district to Kubala in Terego Country, the shortest
route preferred by traders, tobacco farmers and transporters,” Ms
Jessica Candiru the councillor representing Aiivu Sub-county said.
By clement Aluma
UNRA Response
This is one of the bridges planned for reconstruction starting next year.
Why doesn’t the Northern by-pass have ring
roads?
New Vision, Wednesday August 6, 2014. Page 13
I have observed elsewhere that whenever there is a flyover, a ring
road which connects one to the by-pass is a must. So, what has
happened to the Northern by-pass ring roads? I only see the ones on
Jinja road (Nambole) and Bombo road (Bwaise). Where are the others?
By Wilbert Openytho.
UNRA Response
The ring roads around flyovers are only at Nambole and at Bwaise,
the rest are just roundabouts or overpass bridges. In the second
24
phase of expanding the bypass, all the roundabouts will be replaced
with flyovers like those at Nambole and Bwaise. After completion
of the second phase, motorists will be able to drive nonstop from
Nambole to Busega.
UNRA should be clear on road construction
schedule
Daily Monitor, Wednesday, July 30, 2014 Page 12
We highly appreciate government’s proposed East African commercial
highway that will uplift the standard by the road construction. However
Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) should sensitise affected
residents on real proposed plan work schedule and also pay them in
time. There is a proposed fly-over and giant round- about opposite
my village house in Buvunya, Najjembe Sub-county, Buikwe District.
In the area, about 20 houses and a huge piece of land belonging to
peasants will give way for the road beautification. Road demarcation
in the area started way back in early 2011 and the second phase
started this year.
By Emma Masumbuko
Najjembe Sub-County.
UNRA Response
It is true the area mentioned above will be affected by the construction
of the new Kampala-Jinja Expressway. UNRA is working with IFC
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
our transaction advisor on this project to put in place a robust
communication strategy to sensitise the communities affected by
the project.
more and more difficult to keep some of these heavily trafficked
roads as murram. UNRA is now moving towards ‘term maintenance’
for many of these corridors so that contractors keep these roads in
good motorable condition for the next 2 to 3 years.
Over 200 passengers stranded on impassable
Moyo-Adjumani road
New committee to monitor road contracts
Daily Monitor, Friday July 18, 2014. Page 16
At least 200 passengers were on Wednesday stranded for four hours
after three buses travelling to Kampala got stuck on the Moyo-Adjumani
road. Some of the passengers called upon the government to tarmac
road, which they said becomes impassable during the rainy season.
By Martin Okudi
UNRA Response
Daily Monitor, Tuesday July 1, 2014 Page 23
The civil society and UNRA on June 23, named a team of nine people
comprising of members from the civil society government and the
private sector, especially those in the roads construction sector, to
monitor government projects across the country. Code-named multistakeholder group, the team is charged with disclosing information
about government contracts.
By Leonard Mwesigwa
UNRA has completed the designs for upgrading Atiak-Moyo-Adjumani
road and is now sourcing for funding. We hope funds will be availed
next year to start working on this road.
UNRA Response
UNRA pinned over roads.
Mayuge road in need of maintenance
By Chris Kiwawulo
By Betty Angatai
New Vision, Thursday, July 10, 2014 Page 9
Several Uganda National Roads Authority roads in Mubende district
were poorly done, the Resident District Commissioner, Florence
Beyunga, has said. Beyunga said, “There are many complaints lodged
in my office about UNRA roads. These officials are being paid for air
(doing nothing). This needs to be checked.”
UNRA welcomes this development. We believe this move will help to
promote trust and transparency in all road construction projects at
all levels as a tool to ease information flow and provide transparency.
New Vision, Monday, June 16, 2014 Page 13
Motorists plying 85.5km Musita-Majanji road in Mayuge district are
facing a hard time. “We usually take several hours to move from
Mayuge town to Musita. We may spend an hour or more on a bad
stretch of the road instead of 15 minutes,” notes Kamadi Ndansiru,
a regular user of the road.
UNRA Response
UNRA Response
UNRA has not received an official complaint from the RDC’s office
concerning the quality of roads managed by this organisation. It is
important to note that murram roads managed by UNRA are more
heavily trafficked than those managed by the Districts. It is becoming
The contract for upgrading of Musita-Lumino-Busia/Majanji road to
tarmac has been awarded and works are expected to start during
the month of December 2014.
The Roads Magazine
25
The Commissioining.
Kamdin-Gulu Rd in
construction gear
Kamdin- Gulu Road has not seen major repairs since 1969 during Milton Obote’s government
P
reparations for the construction of the
UShs62bn Kamdin-Gulu Road have kicked
off with, surveying and mapping of its
alignment. The construction will involve
processing of the existing wearing course
and 150mm into the road base.
UNRA Gulu Station Manager, Eng Jimmy Adwek says China
Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the firm contracted
for the road’s reconstruction, are carrying out provisional road
maintenance keeping as smooth transportation as possible,
whilst preparations/the process of equipment and manpower
mobilisation is undertaken, “We are grateful that the activities
on the ground are indicative of the commencement of work.”
LC 111 Chairperson Koro Sub County, Santos Uhuru is gratified
that many youth have secured casual labour employment and
looks forward to enhanced “Development in Gulu, the neighboring
districts and the region at large. There is no doubt that with a
good road net work, farmers in Koro Sub County will be able
to sell their produce to satisfy the demand for food stuffs in
the neighboring districts.”
Infrastructural development in Northern Uganda is part of
26
the reconstruction of a region that is recovering from twodecades of insurgency. Gulu District Chairman, doubling as
the Chairperson of Acholi Sub Region district chairpersons,
Martin Ojara Mapenduzi is hopeful that the road will be the key
to the prosperity of northern Uganda population, the gate-way
to South Sudan. He anticipates increased transportation with
attendant business boom, “We are asking for support to our
local communities to develop small scale industries to feed
the available market.”
At the project’s commissioning ceremony in April 2014, Works
and Transport Minister Hon Abraham Byandala said the initiative
would enhance the economic empowerment of the local population
in their fight against poverty. The construction is expected to
be completed in 24months.
Kamdini- Gulu Road has not seen major repairs since 1969
during Milton Obote’s government. Northern Director Uganda
National Chamber of Commerce, Mark Moro expects a good road
to improve Northern Uganda’s economic prospects, “Leaders
are mobilizing communities to utilize the opportunity coming
with the ease of transportation to improve their lives, rather
than leave it for people originating from elsewhere.”
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
The Roads Magazine
27
UGANDA NATIONAL ROADS AUTHORITY
A Well Developed Roads Network
ROAD WORKS UPDATE
OCTOBER 2014
Since its formation in July 2008, UNRA has taken a big step in the provision and maintenance of National Roads in a more efficient and effective manner.
As you travel upcountry, you can see observable evidence that our roads are getting better and Uganda National Roads Authority is delivering on its mandate.
UNRA is determined to contribute to national development through better and safe roads.
Since UNRA started operations, over 1,500km of tarmac roads have been constructed or reconstructed. There are over 2000km of major roads currently
under construction.
Ongoing major projects
There are over 2,300km of major roads currently under construction. These roads include;
28
Road Project
KM
Status
1
Kampala (Busega)-Masaka
(Phase ll) Funded by GOU
51
90% of works completed. The project will be completed by December 2014
2
Tororo- Mbale- Soroti
(Funded by GOU)
152
80% of the works done. Tororo-Mbale-Soroti will be handed over in
December 2014.
3
Jinja-Kamuli(Funded by
GOU):
60
90% of the works done and the project will be handed over in December
2014.
4
Kawempe-Luwero-Kafu
(Overlay)(Funded by GOU)
166
90% of the works done and the road will be completed in December 2014.
5
Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya road
(Funded by GOU)
92
90% of the works done and the project will be completed by Dec 2014
6
Gulu-Atiak road
(Funded by WB/GOU)
74
70% of the works done and the project will be completed by June 2015
7
Vurra – Arua – Koboko –
Oraba (Funded by WB/
GOU)
92
70% of the works done and the project will be completed by June. 2015
8
Mbarara (Buteraniro) –
Ntungamo(Funded by EU/
GOU):
59
80% of the works done and the project will be completed by June 2015
9
Ntungamo-Katuna Road
(Funded by EU/GOU):
74
70% of the works done and the project will be completed by June. 2015.
10
Mukono – Jinja
(Funded by GOU)
52
70% of the works done and the road will be completed by June 2015.
11
Ishaka – Kagamba
(Funded by GOU)
35
40% of the works done and the project will be completed by June 2015.
12
Nakapiriprit – Moroto road
(Funded by GOU)
93
40% of the works done and the project will be completed by January 2016.
13
Kampala-Entebbe Express
Highway with a spur to
Munyonyo
(Funded by China EXIM
bank/ GOU)
51
30% of the works done and the project will be completed by Dec. 2017.
14
Kamwenge-Fort Portal
(Funded by WB/GOU)
65
20% of the works done. The project will be completed by January 2016.
15
Kafu-Kiryandongo
(Funded by GOU)
43
20% of the works done. The project will be completed by June 2015.
16
Luuku-Kalangala (Staged
upgrading under PPP)
66
30% of works completed
The Roads Magazine
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
17
Atiak –-Nimule
(Funded by JICA/GOU)
37
20% of the works done.
18
Mbarara-Bypass
(Funded by EIB/GOU)
40
5% of the works done
19
Mpigi-Kanoni
(Funded by GOU)
64
5% of works completed
20
Mukono-Kyetume-Katosi/
Kisoga-Nyenga(Funded by
GOU)
74
10% of works completed
21
Kiryandongo-Kamdini-Gulu 123
(Funded by GOU)
5% of works done
22
Ntungamo-Kakitumba/Mirama Hills
(Funded by DFID/TMEA/
GOU)
37
Physical works have commenced.
23
Expansion of Kampala
Northern Bypass
(Funded by EU/EIB/GOU
17
Physical works have commenced.
24
Kanoni-Ssembabule-Villa
Maria
(Funded by GOU)
120
Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014
25
Musiita-Lumino-Busia/Majanji
(Funded by GOU)
104
Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014
26
Pakwach-Nebbi
(Funded by GOU)
30
Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014
27
Acholi Bur – Musingo
(Funded by GOU)
86
Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014
28
Olwiyo - Gulu
(Funded by GOU)
70
Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014
29
Gulu – Acholi Bur
(Funded by GOU)
86
Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014
Sironko-Namusi-Muyembe
(Funded by GOU)
32
Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in January 2015
Iganga-Tirinyi (Funded by
GOU)
102
Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in January 2015
Nansana-Busunju (Funded
by GOU)
47
Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in January 2015
Iganga-Kaliro (Funded by
GOU)
32
Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in January 2015
Total
2,326
Ishaka-Kagamba
up-grade earth-works
through a rocky
hill-side to align the
road to stipulated
standards.
TheTheRoads
Roads Magazine
Magazine
29
Mpigi-Kanoni up grade to tarmack; earthworks at Bboza.
Mbarara By-pass; curing the sub-base.
30
The Roads Magazine
Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014
Upcoming projects
A total of over 1,200km of roads are due to commence. The following roads will commence in 2014/15:
Road Name
Km
Status
Bidsevaluation
completed.
Report
submitted to AfDB for “No Objection” to
award contract.
1
Kigumba-Masindi-Hoima-BulimaKabwoya(Funded by AfDB/GOU)
135
2
Masaka-Bukakata
(Funded by BADEA/OPEC)
41
3
Design and Build of Mubende-Kakumiro-Kibaale107
Kagadi(Funded by GOU)
4
Kyenjojo-Kabwoya(Funded by WB/GOU)
105
Bids evaluation completed. Report
submitted to WB for “No Objection” to
award contract.
5
Mukono-Kayunga-Njeru(Funded by GOU)
94
Procurement ongoing
6
Rukungiri-Kihihi-Ishasha-Kambuga/Kihihi-Kanungu-Kambuga(Funded by AfDB/GOU)
112
7
Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi/Kamonkoli
(Funded by BADEA/ OPEC/GOU)
111
8
Kyenjojo-Fort Portal(Funded by GOU)
50
Bid evaluation ongoing
9
Ishaka-Rugazi-Katunguru(Funded by GOU)
55
Bid evaluation ongoing
10
Mbale-Nkokonjeru(Funded by GOU)
20
Bid evaluation ongoing.
11
Kapchorwa-Suam
(Funded by AfDB/GOU)
73
12
Hoima-Wanseko
111
13
Kayunga - Galiraya
88
At project preparation
14
Zirobwe-Wobulenzi
25
At project preparation
15
16
Muyembe - Nakapiripirit
Funded by Islamic Development Bank
Mbale-Bubulo-Lwakhakha
(Funded by AfDB/GOU)
Total
94
41
Bidevaluation completed.
Bid evaluation ongoing.
Procurement ongoing
Procurement ongoing
At project preparation.
At project preparation.
At project preparation
At project preparation
1,262
UNRA CUSTOMER CARE CENTRE
In our effort to help serve our customers better and obtain feedback from all our stakeholders, we have installed a Customer
care hotline and email to be able to listen to you better.
Talk to us!
031-2233111/113 or 041-4318111/113,
Email roadinfo@unra.go.ug
Website http://www.unra.go.ug
The Roads Magazine
31
Committed to Quality Construction
Roads, Highways | Civil Works | Bridges | Water Projects
Hydroelectric plants | Property Development | Turnkey Projects
SBI INTERNATIONAL
HOLDINGS AG (UGANDA)
Plot 88 Luthuli Avenue, Bugolobi, P.O.Box 11713 Kampala, Uganda,
Tel: +256 312 500500, www.sbi.co.ug