Ministry of works unveils equipment for constructing roads in DR Congo

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Works and Transport has unveiled equipment secured from different countries to construct and upgrade three roads in the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC.

The road equipment including excavators, tractors, rollers, vehicles for monitoring, trucks and containers installed with office, accommodation and health facilities are assembled at Dott Services limited base and others at Liberty Internal Custom Depot at Namanve industrial park.

In 2020, Ugandan government declared it was embarking on the project of constructing roads in DRC to improve security and economic interconnectivity following a trade standoff with Rwanda, one of the export destinations for grains and other produce.

The roads targeted are Kasindi-Beni (80kms), Kasindi-Butembo Axis (54kms), and Bunagana–Ruchuru-Goma road (89kms). On May 27, 2021, the two governments signed an inter-government agreement to enable the project.

On June 16, 2021, Presidents Yoweri Museveni and Felix Tshisekedi made a groundbreaking ceremony at Mpondwe-Kasindi. 243.7 billion Shillings ($65.9m) will be spent on the entire project.

The Commissioner for Roads and Bridges at the Ministry of Works, Eng. Stephen Kitonsa notes that on Friday this week, the project steering committee shall hold a meeting in DRC where the contractor (Dott Services Limited) shall be introduced to leaders and officially the campsite shall be handed over to the contractor so as enable shifting of the equipment from Namanve.

Jameson Olonya, the Dott Services Limited Contracts Manager says few equipment are still on transit but so far, they are good to start. He assures that working in DRC is an opportunity to create a good public image of what they are able to do.

Jean Pierre Massala, the DRC Ambassador in Uganda and also the Chairperson of the Steering Committee is excited with the current step of procuring the equipment saying once the project is completed, it will continue strengthening the relationship of the two countries.

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