Government to upgrade upcountry roads to tarmac
The Minister of State for Transport, Hon. Henry Bagiire, has told Parliament that Government is in the process of securing funds to upgrade roads in Lango sub-region, Kiryandongo and Kyegegwa districts.
Bagiire revealed that all the roads made in pledges by President Yoweri Museveni would also be upgraded to tarmac.
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Ajuri County MP, Hon. Hamson Obua, in a question for oral answer, tasked the Minister to explain the plans underway to tarmac five roads in Lango sub-region.
“When does the Ministry of Works and Transport intend to tarmac these national roads in Lango sub-region given that some of them have always appeared in the budget for over a decade now?” Obua asked.
The Minister said that Government had recently secured funds from the World Bank to upgrade the Tororo-Malaba-Kamudini-Lira road to first class standard under an output and performance based road contract, with procurement for the 2017 works contract already concluded.
“Government applied for and also secured funds from the Islamic Development Bank for the upgrading of the Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira road from gravel to bituminous standard… civil works are expected to commence by the end of 2018,” said Bagiire.
He added that Government had secured financing from the African Development Bank to undertake the design for the upgrading of 125km Lira-Abim Road, with the design study for the 64km Abim-Kotido stretch to begin in the financial year 2018/2019 financed by Government.
Hon. Jesca Ababiku (NRM, Adjumani) in her question wondered when the Atiak-Afoji Road would be tarmacked in fulfillment of the pledge by President Yoweri Museveni.
Bagiire told the House that Government had secured Euro 50 million grant from the European Union to upgrade 67km of the road adding that, “we are in discussion with other development partners to secure funding for the remaining 37km section.”
Kyaka South MP, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi noted that a 2001 presidential pledge to tarmac the Kyegegwa-Kibaale-Miziizi road had not been fulfilled.
Bagiire said Government had approached the African Development Bank and that it accepted to finance the feasibility study on the road as well as a detailed engineering design.
“The procurement of the design study on the 82km stretch of Kazo-Mulemba-Kyegegwa road is currently ongoing and is expected to commence by December 2018, and be completed by 2019,” Bagiire added.
