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Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Residents of Kasese Municipality are excited about the new Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Additional Financing-USMID road works.
About 5.64 KM of roads in town have been worked on, modern street lights installed, pavements, business access roads, green zones, and improved drainage systems.
Three other roads; Rukiidi III, Portal extension, and Crescent roads measuring 320m have also been considered for tarmacking with all works expected to be complete by the end of December.
Residents and leaders say the projects will change the face of Kaese town, aid in proper planning of the drainage system, and consequently lead to organization in the growing town.
Obed Nahwera operating the Me and You Bar in Nyakasanga ward says the value of their land has gone up and currently they are experiencing a surge in the number of people coming to buy plots along the new roads.
He argues that improved roads mean that their businesses can easily be accessed by clients who initially shunned their areas due to dust and dark spots.
Joachim Kule, operating a retail shop on Mbogoyabo Road, says the new solar lights installed will boost business in the area. He says that traders now open up to late hours unlike three months ago when he was closing at 7:00 pm.
He adds that a number of small businesses like those dealing in selling fast food have sprung up in the area.
“Of course, this is a new Kasese as you can see, people are now working throughout the night hours and definitely that has been our desire, to be on a level with all other big towns in the country,” Kule noted.
Deputy Mayor Kasese, Robson Mupango says there are already improved economic transformations witnessed before even the works are fully completed. He is optimistic that once all works are complete even the municipality will have improved tax collections.
Owen Oyesigye, one of the supervising consultants said they are ready to deliver the works before December. He said nearly 90% of the initial works have been completed.
On Wednesday a team from the World Bank and the government made a joint inspection exercise on the progress of the works and were pleased with the progress but requested the contractors to ensure business along the improved roads have access routes.
Kasese Municipality was added to the USMID program after the latter’s first 5-year phase. When the USMID-AF phase started, 17 roads with a combined length of 13.2 km were designed, but the Municipality has been in a position to contract out 11 of the roads, totaling 7km. As a… pic.twitter.com/JGME807yzQ
— USMID – Additional Financing Program (@Usmid_AF) September 7, 2023
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