By Olivier Mukaaya
By Fred Wambede
Residents and leaders in Mbale City have said the ongoing rehabilitation of five more roads under the Uganda Support to Municipality Infrastructure Development (USMID) II project funded by World Bank will ease transport and boost trade.
The roads under construction by Dott Services Company include Naboa, Cathedral Avenue, Nkokonjeru, Mumias and Manafwa.
The Shs30 billion project is expected to be complete in 12 months.
Some of the roads that were upgraded in the first phase include Republic Street, Pallisa, Nabuyonga Rise and Mugisu Hill.
They were constructed by Plinth Technical Services Ltd and later by Zhong Mei, a Chinese company.
Ms Sumaya Nambozo, a businesswoman, operating a wholesale shop on Market Street, said: “We are happy that these roads are being rehabilitated. It will ease accessibility. Some of my clients had stopped coming here because of the bad roads.”
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Mr Jude Wandeka, a businessman, operating a boutique on Naboa Road, said tarmacking roads will boost trade.
Mr Abdul Massa, a boda boda rider, however, asked the municipal engineer and other officials to supervise the roadworks to ensure completion within the set time and with the required standard.
“The construction of roads in the first phase delayed because of poor supervision and corruption but it should not happen this time round,” he said.
Mr Massa said the number of accidents would also reduce.
The acting Mbale City spokesperson, Mr James Kutosi, said the face of the city would change.
“Some of roadworks have kicked off on some roads already and we want to ensure the completion is within the set timeframe,” he said, adding that roads will improve businesses and service delivery.
Mr Kutosi said the contractor will fix the drainage system, install street lights, trash cans, bus stop shelters and walkways. “About 77 streetlights will be installed on Cathedral Avenue and Naboa,” he said.
The outgoing city mayor, Mr Mutwalibi Zandya, urged residents to cooperate with the contractor so that the roadworks are uninterrupted.
Mr Paul Batanda, the city town clerk, earlier said the first phase faced challenges, which caused delays.
“This time, we have taken precautionary measures to ensure that materials to be used are standard. We want quality work,” Mr Batanda, said.
Other projects
Last year, the World Bank announced that it would release $350 million to help boost infrastructure development in eight more municipalities across the country; under the Uganda Support to Municipality Infrastructure Development (USMID project. The new municipalities that are set to benefit from the new funding include Lugazi, Kasese, Kamuli, Mubende, Apac, Kitgum, Ntungamo and Busia. Earlier beneficiaries include Fort Portal, Hoima, Kabale, Mbarara, Masaka, Entebbe, Jinja, Lira and Gulu.
