Kamwenge District Speaker Gerald Twebaze has held a crucial discussion with the Minister of Works and Transport Gen Edward Katumba Wamala on Friday, after an engagement meeting at Parliament.
The meeting focused on road construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, the road fund, and overall road safety across the country.
During the discussions, the Ministry of Works and Transport agreed to strengthen cooperation with local governments to enhance road safety.
This move is expected to improve infrastructure development and create safer roads for all Ugandans.
"We recognize the critical role local governments play in ensuring road safety and maintenance. That is why we are committing to periodic engagements and structured collaboration," Gen Katumba said.
Twebaze welcomed the Ministry’s commitment, emphasizing that improved coordination between the central government and local authorities would lead to better service delivery. "Our roads are lifelines for communities, businesses, and the economy. By working closely with local leaders, we can ensure efficient road maintenance and enhanced safety measures," Twebaze stated.
A key highlight of the discussions was the need to address the challenges of road rehabilitation and maintenance.
Many districts across Uganda face deteriorating road networks due to limited funding and poor coordination between stakeholders. The Ministry pledged to work on increasing the efficiency of the Road Fund to ensure timely interventions.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, the Ministry also committed to launching targeted road safety awareness campaigns in partnership with local governments.
"We need to sensitize road users, enforce traffic laws, and invest in safer road designs to reduce accidents," the Minister added.
Twebaze, who also serves as the Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA) Speaker’s representative for the western region, also highlighted the importance of ensuring accountability and transparency in road projects, urging both the Ministry and local governments to work with integrity.
"Ugandans deserve value for money. Every road project must be done efficiently, and we must eliminate any form of corruption or mismanagement," he said.
With the new cooperation framework set to take effect, stakeholders are hopeful that Uganda’s road network will see significant improvements, reducing accidents and enhancing transportation for both urban and rural communities.
The periodic engagements between the Ministry of Works and Transport and local governments are expected to bring practical solutions to Uganda’s road infrastructure challenges.