KIKUUBE– To ease the movement of the people and their properties, the government through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is to upgrade six roads in Kikuube in a project worth Shs 15.9 billion.
The roads, making 70.3 kilometers, will be upgraded from their current state to first-class marrum. The roads are located in the sub-counties of Kyangwali, Buhimba Town Council and Subcounty, Kizirafumbi Town Council and Sub-county.
The roads include; Kinogozi-Kihabwemi-Kigaya [13.95km], Kabanyansi-Musaijamukuru [12.40km], Kigaya-Kitindura-Kikuube [14.85km] and Kiziranfumbi-Kichakanya-Ruhunga road [16 km]. Others are Bukinda-Nguse road [5.20km] and Kyangwali-Tontema-Mahamba road [7.30km].
The upgrading of the roads is funded by the World Bank under the Albertine Region Sustainable Development Project.
A bill of quantities containing the scope of work to Kikuuube district leadership was handed over to Kikuube district leaders.
Charles Otimu the environmental specialist at the lands ministry said that all the procurement processes were completed and Capital Abubaker Technical and General Supplies Limited was sourced as the contractor to improve the roads.
He added that all was set for the contractor to kick start the project works. Road user committees were selected and trained in the area where the project is going to be implemented, he said.
He said some committees would coordinate with the local government leaders, the contractor, and the responsible ministries to ensure smooth implementation of the project and create awareness in the community about the project.
While launching the project, Kikuube District Resident Commissioner [RDC] Amlan Tumusiime warned the contractor of shoddy work, saying it is important to ensure value for the money. He said contractors who do substandard will not be tolerated in the district.
Tumusiime commended the government for funding the rehabilitation of the potholed roads and called on local communities to use the improved road network to improve their household incomes by engaging in production.
“This is the time the local people should engage in production to fight poverty,” he said, adding that the government is investing a lot of money in such projects to facilitate social-economic development in the country.
Vincent Opio Alpha, the Kikuube district vice Chairperson was excited about the project, saying that the roads have been in a poor state because the district lacked funds to rehabilitate them.
He was optimistic that the rehabilitation of the roads would facilitate production since the communities will be able to access markets for their produce.
He said the poor state of the roads has hindered access to social amenities such as schools and health facilities.
Suzan Kabasind the district councilor for Buhimba Town Council said the implementation of the project in the district will promote service delivery.
She warned the public against sabotaging the project, explaining that they should not expect compensation in case some crops and trees are uprooted.
“What you should know is that this project has no compensation money, so those with crops, trees, and other property should be ready to cooperate and offer support to the contractor for the good of our areas,” she advised.
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