Shocked by their findings of ongoing excavation works, heaping of murram and gravels among others, Tayebwa expressed disappointment at the delay of the project, which was supposed to be completed by 2023 from the date of commencement as indicated in the contract agreement between the Government and the contractor.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa (in jacket) expresses frustration at the delay of Kampala-Mpigi Expressway project as UNRA ED Allen Kagina look (R) and other MPs look on. Photo by Dominic Ochola
The Physical
Infrastructure Committee of parliament has expressed disappointment at the ‘extremely’
slow engineering works on the multi-billion Shillings Kampala-Mpigi Expressway
project. Also
known as the Busega–Mpigi Expressway, the Expressway, is a 35.41km
long four-lane, dual carriage highway whose construction commenced in 2016.
The expressway is expected to connect
the Capital, Kampala, and Mpigi District, mitigate traffic congestion, and spur
economic development along the Kampala-Masaka highway. To
expedite the project, Parliament approved a Shillings 600 billion loan request from a co-financer, the African Development Bank – ADF. Subsequently,
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation – CCCC, and China Railway 19th
Bureau Group (U) Ltd were contracted in June 2019 to build the expressway
within 30 months.
A monitoring visit by the Committee and Mpigi District Local
Government officials led by the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa on Tuesday, showed that only 30 percent of the work has been
done five years since the project was rolled out. Shocked
by their findings of ongoing excavation works, heaping of murram and gravels among others, Tayebwa expressed disappointment at the delay of the project, which was supposed to be completed by 2023 from the date of commencement
as indicated in the contract agreement between the Government and the contractor.
//Cue in: "We expected June…
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Tasked to explain the cause of the delays, Allen
Kagina, the UNRA Executive Director told journalists at a press briefing in
Kyengera Town Council in Wakiso District that the swampy topography, readjustment
of the project design, the COVID-19 pandemic, and numerous settlements on the expressway have impacted their
work pace.
//Cue in: "The main causes of…
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Martin Ssejjemba, the Mpigi District LC V Chairperson told URN that delays and extensions of the expressway project have stalled
the implementation of development plans, stifled economic prospects in the area,
and caused runoff water to destroy people’s livelihoods.
//Cue in: "So the extensions and…
Cue out: …see a very huge effect."//
The monitoring team further drove in a convoy from Mpigi-Bikondo-Buloba-Nsangi, a distance of approximately 23 kilometers along the project to ascertain the ongoing work. They were equally shocked to realize a thin workforce on the ground after the Ministry of Works and Transport claimed the contractor was well mobilized with up to 305 different equipment onsite site and about 602 employees.
By the time of filing this story, Tayebwa had convened a closed-door meeting involving UNRA
officials and area Members of Parliament including the Mawokota North Member of
Parliament, Hillary Kiyaga; Betty Naluyima Ethel, the Wakiso District Woman Representative
and Yusuf Nsibambi, the Mawokota South MP to forge a way
forward to the dilemma.
URN understands that UNRA has been facing an uphill task of resistance
and legal battles involving at least 490 Project Affected Persons – PAPS along
the sections handed over to the Contractor due to; disputes over land
ownership, and rejection of the approved compensation amounts among others.
According
to the project plan, upon completion, the 4-lane dual carriage Expressway is
foreseen to enhance the effectiveness of the Kampala—Entebbe Expressway and the
Kampala Northern Bypass. It will also connect
areas of Nabbingo, Katende, Bujjuko, and Mityana Highway to 30 bridges and Mpigi
Town.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and later Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
