Delayed Rehabilitation of Kampala-Jinja Highway Sparks Heated Debate in Parliament

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Delayed Rehabilitation of Kampala-Jinja Highway Sparks Heated Debate in Parliament
The highway is largely damaged | Internet photo

The deteriorating state of the Kampala-Jinja Highway has taken centre stage in Uganda’s Parliament, with lawmakers expressing frustration over the delayed rehabilitation and maintenance of this vital trading route.

Serving as a key link for the movement of goods and people between Kampala, Jinja, and neighbouring regions, the highway is now plagued by potholes and years of neglect.

Agnes Taaka, the Woman MP for Bugiri, voiced her concerns about the Ministry of Works and Transport’s failure to complete maintenance on certain sections of the road.

“The maintenance works from Nakawa to Mukono have dragged on for over five years. What started in 2019 near Bweyogerere is still ongoing. This has left the road in an appalling state,” she said.

Taaka’s comments reflected the growing frustration among MPs who have witnessed the slow pace of rehabilitation on one of Uganda’s busiest routes.

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among joined the call for urgent action, demanding a status report on the stalled maintenance works and an update on the construction of the planned Jinja-Kampala Expressway.

Ms Among emphasized the critical role the highway plays in Uganda's economy, describing it as a “major trading route.”

She further tasked the government with providing a clear plan for covering the potholes, especially along the most damaged stretches of the road, to alleviate the burden on road users.

Bugiri District Woman MP Agnes Taaka

Several other MPs echoed these sentiments, lamenting the prolonged delays and poor road conditions. The road's current state not only affects commuters but also threatens trade and logistics for businesses that rely on timely transportation of goods between Kampala and the rest of the country.

In response to the concerns, Minister of State for Works and Transport Musa Ecweru acknowledged the challenges, admitting that while Uganda had built over 6,000 kilometers of new roads, maintenance had been underfunded.

“We have not put enough resources into maintaining these roads,” Ecweru stated. He assured the House that a directive had been issued to address road maintenance in future cabinet meetings.

The 3rd Deputy Prime Minister, Rukia Nakadama, also pledged that the Minister of Works would provide a more comprehensive update on the issue.

As Parliament awaits a detailed response, the mounting dissatisfaction underscores the urgency of addressing infrastructure gaps on the Kampala-Jinja Highway.

The continued delays have raised questions about government accountability and the effective management of Uganda’s road network, leaving both lawmakers and citizens eager for concrete solutions.

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