Engineer John Baptist Lubega, the Marine Transport Manager at Kalangala Infrastructure Services limited-KIS; a firm operating two ferries between Bukakata landing site at Masaka mainland and Luku in Kalangala district, says they have increased their daily round trips to 20 from 16 due to the high demand for service.
Fred Byamukama the Minister of State for Transport said that applicants would have to appear in person with their National Identification cards for verification.
Caroline Apalat, a booking Clerk for Gogolon Transporters Ltd that plies the Kampala-Moroto route via Mbale, Kumi and Soroti in Eastern Uganda says several passengers who booked cancelled their Thursday trip forcing them to charge the initial rates.
Anyakun said that the government is closely working with the affected local governments to manage and extend help to the disaster victims. The minister’s statement fell short of mentioning the affected roads.
In his September 14, 2021 response to the CAO on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Transport, Engineer T. Mugenyi says that results from tests conducted on the culverts submitted by the district indicate that they meet the specifications of class light pipes for the roads.
Many roads are now impassable over heavy rains and rising water levels of Lake Kyoga since 2020. Some roads are submerged by water, culverts collapsed and filled with potholes.
The researchers at the department of population studies say they interviewed and tested over 780 riders in four Kampala divisions of Makindye, Nakawa, Rubaga and Kawempe where they would flag down whoever was carrying a passenger or one that had just dropped off a customer.
Fredrick Oporia, a Researcher based at the Makerere University School of Public Health says at least 95% of the people do not use life jackets and often only a few of them get rescue support when they drown.
The huge number of travelers prompted transporters to hike their fares. Bus fares to up country areas have more than doubled. For example, transport fares to the northern Uganda route specifically to Gulu has increased to between Shillings 100,000 and 130,000 from Shillings 40, previously. Travelers to Elegu border post are paying Shillings 150,000.
"The public will be notified through public notices and media announcements, when they can come to pick their licenses," says a statement from the Works and Transport Ministry. The refusal by the government to renew the license of Face Technologies drew public reactions, which had largely given approval of the South African company for the efficiency, it exhibited relative to previous operations.
The Spokesperson at the ministry, Susan Kataike said that Face Technologies will continue issuing the permits starting Monday, to give time to the new contractor to take over on March 1, 2021.
Eng. Lawrence Pario, the Head of Bridges and Structures in UNRA, says construction of the new bridges will start in April 2021 when the ongoing bidding process is finalized.
Katumba Wamala advised that the residents should accept to lose some their land for construction of the road without demanding for compensation like it is being done in other parts of the country
Gen Katumba Wamala says that besides the DR Congo roads, another project they are currently looking at which is yet to mature is the participation of Uganda in the road that will link Uganda through South Sudan to Ethiopia.
The members of the Budget Committee were irritated by the allocation of the funds towards roads in the DRC when local roads in the country remain impassable. But Works minister Gen. Katumba Wamala said he hoped that the committee considers the project as a game changer in terms of trade and security.
The matters resurfaced this morning when Kanvaly Bamba, the SGS Country Manager appeared before the Physical Infrastructure committee of parliament to discuss the relationship between the company and government agencies, as well as its newly negotiated contract with the Ministry of Works.
According to General Katumba Wamala, the Ministry and Uganda National Roads Authority followed specific criteria in paving roads and overtime, the coverage will be enhanced. He says some of the technical reasons behind paving the roads include; roads critical to support agriculture, tourism, oil and gas, minerals and other economic activities.
Waiswa Bageya, the Ministry of Works Permanent Secretary says that the Ministry’s Head Office, Mechanical unit and the testing laboratory in Kireka, Wakiso district have been closed for fumigation until September 7, 2020.
The proposed 40-kilometre road from Kisoro to Kanungu is expected to ease access to tourist attractions in the Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga Park tourism value chain. The new road will replace the existing murram road which had become impassable, especially during the rainy seasons, yet it had no safety signage.
