The government will prioritise maintainance and rehabilitation of existing roads, developing the standard gauge railway, and growth of Uganda Airlines to improve transport infrastructure and boost business, the State Minister for Transport, Fred Byamukama, has said.
The minister said the focus will shift from constructing new tarmac roads to maintaining those already built, adding that this approach is cost-effective, as delayed maintenance leads to faster deterioration and higher repair costs.
“We have realized a lot of effort has been put on tarmacking new roads, but then the existing ones keep deteriorating, so we want to increase the budget on maintaining existing tarmac roads in this term of office,” Byamukama said.
He added that the government plans to increase the district road fund from the initial one billion shillings to a higher, yet-to-be-communicated amount to ensure urban, feeder, and access roads are properly maintained.
“We also want to have feeder and access roads in the district maintained so that they ease people’s movement,” he noted.
The government also aims to complete stalled road projects within the first two years of the new term.
In a bid to reduce heavy truck traffic and preserve roads, Byamukama said the administration will prioritize the development of a standard gauge railway capable of transporting large volumes of cargo efficiently.
“We know there is a lot of pressure on our roads by trucks taking goods, so we want to have a standard gauge railway, because with a railway it takes a lot of cargo and so fast, this will reduce heavy trucks on our roads, and make roads last longer,” he explained.
The government has also earmarked Shs460 billion to modernise Uganda Airlines, procure additional aircraft, and expand routes, which is expected to ease the movement of foreign investors into the country.
“You all know what is happening with Uganda Airlines re-alignment, so we are very determined to revive it. This will enable foreign investors to come to Uganda once we have as many routes for our Uganda aircraft as possible,” Byamukama said.
Road safety will receive increased attention, with the government investing in awareness campaigns to reduce accidents.
“Many of you buy cars, drive motorcycles, but we have a lot of accidents on the roads because people drive the way they want. We need to teach them about road signs,” he stated.
The minister shared these plans during the launch of a suspension trail bridge in Kakumiro, connecting Bwanswa and Kasamya sub-counties, an area prone to flooding during rainy seasons.
Co-funded by the Ugandan government and FIKA, the bridge cost 500 million shillings and has a projected lifespan of 30 years if well maintained.
Pauline Ketty Okello, Uganda Programs Director for FIKA, said the organization continues to support government efforts, particularly in hilly and rift valley areas where infrastructure costs are high.
“So far, under this arrangement, we have constructed 44 suspension trail bridges in different parts of Uganda. Our aim is to enable people to move, especially school-going children, and to access markets,” she said.
Kakumiro District Chairman Joseph Sentayi commended both the government and FIKA for the bridge, which has become a local tourism attraction.
He promised to protect and maintain it, noting a committee has been established to prevent damage from scrap dealers.
“We have a problem of scrap dealers, but we are going to ensure that this bridge is protected,” Sentayi said.
