The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Uganda procures four 100-seater aircraft
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Works and Transport has outlined several projects it has embarked on in promoting adequate, safe and well maintained infrastructure and services in Uganda.
Presenting her ministry’s accountability as part of the the NRM Manifesto 2016-2021 Week at Lugogo on Wednesday, Minister Monica Azuba Ntege named several flagship projects that included the Entebbe Airport redesign, the new Jinja bridge to be opened this year and the acquisition of four new aircraft.
“I believe we have made steady progress and we shall continue to make steady progress,” the minister told the press.
She said the ongoing expansion of Entebbe International Airport will provide adequate infrastructure and facilities in order to accommodate current and future air traffic and promote service excellence.
In the oil sector, construction of Kabale International Airport in Hoima to facilitate the development of the oil refinery is ongoing, so is the upgrading of 2,025km of gravel roads to tarmac including strategic roads to support exploitation of minerals, oil and gas as well as tourism.
Azuba confirmed that efforts to revive the national carrier are on course, and government has already procured four aircraft (100 seater) that will traverse neighbouring countries of the East African region.
“The four aircraft will start commercial flights in the period of November and December, with two more expected in the year 2020,” she said, adding that “the revival of the national carrier will enhance the country’s competitiveness by reducing the cost of air transport and easing connectivity to and from Uganda, promote tourism industry and contribute to the development of Uganda as a regional hub.”
The first four are Canadair Regional Jets 900 series (CRJ-900), that will be followed by two Airbus A330-800.
Another area the ministry is focussing on is construction of 112 bridges to remove bottle necks on the national network and improve all weather accessibility in addition to construction of Express Ways to reduce traffic congestion and ease movement of transit traffic through Kampala.
She mentioned plans to procure extra ferries for provision of effective and safe continuation of national road network and provision of transport services to islands and other hard to reach areas as well as procurement of additional road equipment (1151 pieces) to districts to enable them carry out effective road maintenance on their respective networks.
Another highlight is the development of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) together with Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan to provide fast, reliable, efficient and high capacity railway transport services to reduce cost of doing business and expedite economic growth and development.
“Progress of SGR is on, with land acquisition is ongoing. Harmonization with Kenya is complete with the project appraisal by Exim Bank done,” she said.
Also in the pipeline is construction of a new Kampala port at Bukasa to develop an alternative route (central corridor) from Kampala, across Lake Victoria to the Indian Ocean and reduce over-dependence on the Northern Corridor.
