Government is to spend Shillings 165.5 billion on the construction of Nyendo-Bukakata road. The money is part of the US$ 27 million loan government secured from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).
The 41 kilometers road connects Masaka district to Kalangala Islands through Bukakata landing site. The road would become impassable during the rainy season because of its poor state but this will soon be no more.
This is because President Yoweri Museveni finally commissioned the road works on Sunday ending many years of waiting by residents. The Works and Transport Minister, Monica Ntege Azuba, says the road will be upgraded to class II Bitumen standard, it will be 7 meters wide, will have 1.5 shoulders wide on both sides and a thickness of 200 millimeters.
Azuba notes that the project that will last for a period of two years will also cater for an additional 8 kilometer road stretches around Masaka municipality. She asks the communities to put the road to good use upon completion.
In his speech to residents at Kasana community play ground in Nyendo-Ssenyange Division, President, Yoweri Museveni noted that government chose to fulfill its obligations basing on priorities and available resources.
“I am happy to preside over this occasion where we are fulfilling the pledges made in our re-election manifesto while also advancing Government’s strategy for poverty eradication, economic development and regional integration,” Museveni said.
Museveni challenged residents to fully embrace government programs and improve their household incomes so that they can be part of the broader national development initiative.
Willy Lugoloobi, the Kalangala district chairperson, said the road works have been long overdue, arguing that the road has been subjecting them to untold suffering given its current state.
Government has contracted Arab Contractors Uganda Limited to work on the road. Salah Radwan, the firm’s General Manger, says the road works will officially begin in January 2019.