Delayed completion of road works irks Mbarara city leaders

Mbarara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mbarara city leaders have raised concern about the delayed completion of roads.

According to the city authorities, the utility providers delay moving water pipes, electric poles, and underground cables when road works commence.

Some of the delayed works include Akiiki Nyabongo, Maj Victor Bwana, and Galt roads. The others are Constantino Lobo and Buremba roads.

Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, the Mbarara City Mayor says that road works have been delayed because the contractor did not involve the utility providers.

He tasked the city clerk and the program technical committee to always invite the service providers to all the site meetings to avoid blame games.

The Minister of State for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Mario Obiga Kania said that the government has started formulating a policy that will compel service providers to expedite the relocation of their equipment to enable road works to commence.

Kania was speaking during the commissioning of five roads and the beautification of the Rwebikona parking yard in Mbarara city. The projects are under the phase II of the Uganda Support to Municipalities Development (USMID) program.

Assy Abirebe Tumwesigire, the Mbarara city clerk says that 5.2 kilometers of road have been tarmacked and rehabilitated, and 704 street lights installed since the inception of the USMID program in 2015.

The City Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi pleaded to the minister to have three bridges on River Rwizi constructed to enable residents access the city.

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