UNRA is adding interest charges on it’s debt amounting to 235,6 billion shilling per day….

The Uganda National Road Authority (UNRA), which is a government entity under the Ministry of Works and Transport is clearly not fit for purpose. The whole government is showing how it’s failing it’s governance, by not being solid and considering the costs of it’s operations. The Republic and their financial muscles are clearly not aligned. That’s why the State Budget isn’t only filled with deficit financing, but other parts of the state is run by it too.

UNRA director Allen Kagina is to blame her, but we know she has been directed and told to follow up on agreements in letters from the President. Presidential Directives are intervening and stopping a fair judgment of the tenders and the contracts signed. That’s why the whole blame cannot be put on her. As we have seen that the President has directed and told who is getting the bid. Therefore, the Ministry and UNRA has less powers.

That’s why the report published on the 6^th September 2022 called: “REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE DELAYED PAYMENT TO CONTRACTORS, BY GOVERNMENT OF UGANDA, LEADING TO UNBEARABLE INTERESTS” is very important. That signals what is missing and how the reoccurring debt is appearing. The UNRA and Ministry of Works and Transport cannot compete. No matter how Gen. Edward Wamala structures or do his job, or even tries to configure within his means. The Presidential Directives and the current leadership structure is eating his ministry up alive. That’s why this report is earth shattering and shows how badly this is run.

The UNRA is becoming a loss-loss operation and the contractors are now losing money. They are losing money in such a way that the state has to pay with interests and add more costs. As they are already run on deficits. This is practically eating the roads and the supposed “integration” to markets, which the President always promises during campaign rallies.

Just read the quotes here… it is really tragic…

“On 4^th May 2022, Hon. Richard Sebamala, MP, Bukoto Central in Masaka District raised a Matter of National Importance regarding budget suppression particularly in the Road Sector with its attendant accumulation liquidated damages to a tune of UGX. 334,000,000 per day in the case of debts accumulated by Uganda National Roads Authority(UNRA). The Rt. Hon. Speaker directed the Committee on Physical Infrastructure to investigate the matter” (Report, P: 2, 2022).

“The Sky Rocketing Interest Rates arising from Government’s non-fulfillment of its obligations to Contractors amounts to foreseen trivial costs to Government. It is improper for the Country to incur foreseen trivial costs to a tune of UGX. 235.6 million per day in interest charges” (Report P: 9, 2022).

“Failure to pay the arrears will continue to cause Government to incur trivial expenditures including interest expenses, idle equipment and reduction in the works by Contractors” (Report, P: 9, 2022).

“The Committee considers that MDAs, specifically Ministry of Works and UNRA are the main contributors to the deficit of the UGX 573.5 billion with accruing interest rate of 15% per annum, and the resulting interest charges amounting UGX 235.6 billion per day. The non-payment of Certificates arose due to the shortfall in funding and the 40% budget cuts across the board” (Report, P: 11, 2022).

You can really see the key aspects of report by just reading these few quotes. That says it all. It shows what the state does and how the UNRA is run. The Government have failed the Ministry of Works and Transport, and in-connection to that the UNRA as well. This is from the top-down who haven’t acted righteous. It isn’t the direct fault of UNRA director or UNRA itself. The Ministry of Finance and the State House should answer for their faults too. They haven’t looked into the numbers and what things has cost. The President has directed and ordered certain projects and taken out loans to build them too. That’s why the UNRA only trying to cope with the work. While the MoWT only has to follow up and do it’s bidding too.

That’s why the new debt and added interests is only making every project more expensive. The state is only adding more debt. While it should have ensured and finance the projects it already has. This shows the the failure of the state and how badly it is run. The UNRA is bankrupting itself. The state cannot afford it and doesn’t have fiscal funds to cover debts. That’s why it’s gaining even more debt as the time goes. The daily interests and costs should worry the state… because this is just bad or going to worse even. Peace.

Uganda: Museveni directed who got Road Contracts

There is nothing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni doesn’t touch or directs. He can sell land, build buildings or have the army to get rid of an opponent. It is all happening from whatever government housing his occupying or if his relaxing besides his cows at his ranch. The President can always just send a letter and change policy by doing so.

The President has in the past revised laws by directing his ministers. The President has stopped court cases and ensured the results are going into his favour. Therefore, today’s revelations aren’t shocking, but showing a steady pattern.

On the 15^th May 2021 he wrote a letter to Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) director Allen Kagina that Zhongmei Engineering Group was getting the tender and agreement to build the road of Kanoni-Misingi-Mityana (37km).

On the 21^st June 2021 he wrote a letter to Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) director Allen Kagina that Chongqing International Construction Corporation (CICO) was getting the tenders and agreements to build the roads of Kabowohe-Kitagata-Rukungiri (65,7km) and Misindye-Kabimbiri-Zirobwe-Wobulenzi-Kapeeka (138km).

On the 29^th June 2021 he wrote a letter to Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) director Allen Kagina that Ashoka Buildcon Limited was getting the tenders and agreements to build the roads of Mpigi-Kibibi-Mityana (60km), Kanungu-Hamurwa (47km) and Butogota-Buhoma (32km).

This is giving direct tenders to two Chinese corporations and one Indian one. That is clear that the “Buy Ugandan, Build Uganda” BUBU slogan only gets that far. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the President have given away these tenders to please the loan agreements and interests of secret dealing with the President. If he didn’t have that… we would have seen Dott Services or other known companies getting involved.

The expensive roads and the corrupt practices comes from the head. The President breaks the laws himself. As UNRA isn’t having a tender process and neither is companies fighting to get the tender to build or fix these roads in question. No, the President has already secret agreements which is why his directing the UNRA to write agreements with them.

This shows how shady and how the state is micro-managed. When a President with 80 people in his cabinet and still he directs government organizations to follow his will. That is why his the personification of the state. The President of Life shows his ways by writing these letters.

This isn’t a sign of strength. Just like it is not a sign of strength to have the army to fix everything else. It is not sign of good state when the Head of State decides which companies that are building and constructing roads in the Republic. That job should be done by other with other titles and this is why they are created UNRA in the first place to follow procedures and do it correctly by law. Which isn’t following the direct directions of the President.

These three companies are getting a leeway and didn’t have to do their work. Somewhere and somehow they have gotten it behind closed doors. The President has made these deals and therefore the bureaucracy now has to clean the slate for him. They have to legitimize it… and that’s why the UNRA will in end make “agreements” with these companies. However, it was set in stone and the UNRA director knew that there was no choice.

The “High Above” said so and henceforth it is law. Peace.

Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA): UPDF set to take up road construction (10.07.2021)

Opinion: Reminiscing about Maj. Gen. Kazini [and will Museveni launch a “new breed” of military entrepreneurialism in North Kivu?]

This isn’t a far fetched, ancient history and such. Many of the men behind the ills of the past is still lingering around. They are in the chambers of powers, having titles and being called “honourable”. These men used their opportunities in the past to earn fortunes on the misery of others. They created massive networks, supported local militias and forged companies to ensure wealth. These was Generals, High Ranking Officials and Associates of the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

This they did across the Democratic Republic of Congo. These men in question was Gen. Salim Selah, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire and Maj. Gen. James Kazini. They we’re all participating in the plundering, the looting and the illicit resource flight from the DRC to Uganda. They ensured the military presence and their allies could extract, steal and operate illegal businesses to profit out of. That was all done with the blessing of the “High Above” in Kampala.

Today, I started to reminiscing about Maj. Gen. James Kazini, the late General who was killed by his girlfriend in 2009. That was year after the war in the DRC ended. The man who had together with various of factions, barriers to market and usage of force made it possible to enrich himself on the conflict. He together with Gen. Salim Selah secured companies like Victoria Group. Victoria Group even had as one of their shareholders being Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga. That’s why this enterprise was supported, all from the top!

The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) used the power they had in the region to exploit the mineral resource and re-export it. Like selling diamonds, gold and coffee as Ugandan, but it origins was from the DRC.

Therefore, knowing all this, as the news of the Cabinet Meeting in Entebbe on Monday this week. Which stated building road-network in the North Kivu Province. I cannot help to think, that it’s not only a wet-dream for road-scandal with tenders, lost funds and ghosts. Also with the history of the UPDF. The history of men like Maj. Gen. Kazini. There could be people willing to profit from the sins of the past again. Especially, profitable mineral resources as cobalt and others, which happens to be in North Kivu.

So, if Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) is building the roads in North Kivu. Then, the President and his team will come excuses that the UPDF need a battalion to ensure the safety of contractors and engineers. While, the same army will also configure ways to participate in more military entrepreneurialism in the province. That would be a way to kick-back and make it profitable.

That the UPDF and UNRA would do this wouldn’t be shocking. There is to much resources and possible exploits for them to not grab it. Even if it is a illicit business and illegal. Still, to this day the Ugandan government is exploiting Congolese gold as they are minting it at the Gold Refinery in Entebbe. Which is why, I am thinking there is more plans ahead in North Kivu.

They are not just going there to tarmac some roads and build a bridge or two. No, they are not compensation for the past hurt and looting. No, these men are finding a new way to exploit and profit of the situation. This is the same government that has used Kisoro as a base and supported para-military groups in the DRC. The same government that was a safe-haven for M-23 soldiers. Therefore, I have little trust of the goodwill…

Until proven otherwise. Peace.

Uganda: Cabinet Meeting at the State House authorised building roads in the North Kivu Province! [A new saga begins]

Yesterday on the 28^th September 2020 at the State House in Entebbe, the Cabinet Meeting have made several of decisions. These are usually rubber-stamped by the Parliament. Therefore, what they decided is decisive. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and its government are really starting a expansive plan.

The NRM are now going forward with building roads in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

These roads are:

Kasinde – Beni (80 Km)

Beni – Butembo Axis (54 km)

Bunagana – Rutshuru – Goma (89 km)

They are building the roads in the North Kivu in a region, which the Ugandan state have both occupied between August 1998 to June 2003. As well, as the Ugandan involvement in toppling Mobutu and installing Laurent Kabila. Because, of the looting of the years and the loss of the compensation for it.

Is this the way the Ugandan government trying to bait- and switch the government of Kinshasa? Will President Tshisekedi and Kabila accept this?

This is about 223 kilometres of tarmacked roads within the North Kivu province. A place the para-military of the Uganda knows well. A region where the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) are familiar in. Who knows how they are planning to develop this and who will do the bidding?

Is this more Chinese Operators or in connection with the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). One of the most corrupt institutions in Uganda, which is the reason why buildings roads in the Republic is so expensive.

That is why its weird that the Ugandan is doing this and made this decision in a Cabinet Meeting yesterday. Wonder, if the government and authorities within the DRC will accept this? Is this to patch the hurt or is this a gamble of the Presidency?

They are pursuing it for inter-connectivity, mobility and for security. That is what they are stating in the minutes from the Cabinet Meeting. However, in my opinion this isn’t about bilateral cooperation and further the ties of the Republic’s.

The Cabinet Meeting and the State of Uganda is gambling that this will be a sort of pay-off for their plundering. Do some good deeds, but that has to be accepted by Kinshasa. That is something we have to see and this can take forever before it starts. We can wonder who will deal with the tenders, the budgets and who will keep the governments accountable. This sort of building and development project is a corrupt man wet-dream. As there will be no clear oversight and will be raining funds. There will be ghosts, there will be goats and will be unallocated funds.

We can also wonder, if this will be an excuse to have the UPDF returning into the province of North Kivu, as they have to be security for the road-companies and the construction. That wouldn’t shock me at all.

That is all speculation, but this story is only starting. There will be devils in the details. We just have to see, if the states will write Memorandums of Understandings (MOUs) and Agreements to safeguard the deals. Therefore, the Cabinet Meeting yesterday is just a beginning. This is a saga that will continue… Peace.

NRM Primaries 2020: Byandala MP has finally lost (!) and his corrupt legacy…

In Luweero, the results for the National Resistance Movement Primaries are finally out. That the MP for Katikamu County North, who has represented in Parliament since 2006. This man has survived a lot and gotten away with it.

This man being Abraham Byandala… the people of Luweero is tired of this man. He has had three terms. He should be famous for getting away with the thieving of the monies supposed to go to building the Mukono-Katosi Road. A scandal he has gotten easily away from… he got acquitted, but still this will always linger on.

Not only that one, but this man has punched a journalist. Media activists wanted him tried for assault of the journalist.

As an MP and Minister, he used the time in office for shady deals. Both with Chinese contractors and ensuring riches for other cronies within the NRM Party. That is why there wasn’t only Mukono-Katosi Road Scandal, but also the NAMO-Scandal. A scandal where the UNRA was supposed to contract to build 4 bridges in Karamoja. However, all the monies ended up in the pockets of family members of Minister Lokeris in Rukiga. That is the sort of favours that has saved him, as he has made friends and therefore, gotten away with it.

In 2011 after he had to defend the budget of his Ministry to the Parliament Committee, a Parliament Committee he was part of in the previous term. He asked for more time, because he was trying to confuse the MPs and not explaining the documents delivered to the Committee. That shows that he was a useful pawn as an MP and did the bidding of others.

That is why its good that Byandala is done as MP. That he lost in Luweero. He used his time to scams and scandals. Enriching himself and the ones around him. Using the Ministry and his position to help himself. He didn’t do it for the betterment of the Republic.

What is worse is that it didn’t cost him. Yes, his synonymous with some road scandals, but he got away with it. The usage of UNRA and Road Development to get funds. That says it all.

Byandala had no problem doing that. So, nobody should be sad his not in office on the fourth term. The loss yesterday proves people was tired of his ways. He couldn’t survive forever.

The man should answer for his corrupt behaviour, Just that two scandals created headlines. We can wonder what else he did or knew about, but didn’t leak out. As I doubt these two was the only ones in the years in office. When you can do it at this scale. There are someone who knew and others who pocketed funds this way. That’s why Dot Services is a thing and other sketchy companies getting road contracts. This is known… and was a thing Byandala did too.

So, Byandala has now fallen and it was about time. Peace.

Bad Roads: The new tourist experience!

“For us, a bad road is cause for complaining. But for people in affluent societies who have never experienced getting stuck on a bad road, pushing a car from a ditch can be part of tourism experience,” – Henry Okello Oryem before Foreign Affairs Committee (14.01.2020).

Who knew? Why wasn’t this thought of before?

I think Okello Oryem has found the Holy Grail of Tourism. Maybe, he needs to consult the State Minister for Tourism Godfrey Kiwanda. His Miss Curvy Uganda is clearly not cutting it. Neither, does Yeezy’s sneakers nor the trips with Zari or Fabiola. It all doesn’t cut it. Showing of the national parks and the beautiful sights. No, the Ministry should show the bad backroads of Amuriat, Kaabong or anywhere else the state has forgotten to invest in roads.

If it is the middle of Bunyoro, Busoga or Karamoja. Who cares, the cars get stuck and only military vehicles can pass. If luck a 4 wheel-drive of Land Cruiser might make you pass. If not, get a safari fixed Land Rover Defender to pass the bad roads in West Nile or even Toro might fancy someone.

Why has the President always praised his road building? Why has he always proclaimed the steady progress of good roads and better Public Private Partnership Programme of building roads in rural Uganda? Shouldn’t he disband the thing? Ensure all roads suck, so that every tourist and everyone passing Uganda would feel the badness?

Getting stuck between Mbale to Kampala, when going back to the Metropolitan area after seeing Sipi Falls. Don’t get through the Mabira Forest after visiting the Source of the Nile in Jinja. Why not getting stuck around Hoima after seeing Murchinson Falls outside Masindi. That will be such an thrill.

Wasting time as tourist, when your on limited time(!). Trying to see the best things, trying the specialities and the best things the Republic has to offer. And all the SAFARI companies has forgotten the bad rural roads. They have forgotten selling Kampala as “Kampotholo”. They have forgotten sell the driving style to avoid dipping into the potholes. “Drive like a Ugandan By Ugandans” DUBU. Kiwanda and Okello Oryem should be the faces of DUBU. Everyone will forget about BUBU by the next month.

If you seriously think tourists wants to be stuck in traffic jam in Kampala. Be lost in Taxi Park not finding the right taxi or spending fortunes on specials. Your wrong. They neither want to drive on the side-walk, frighten that the boda-boda driver will get their head served as a token of his reckless driving. But, with the minds of Okello Oryem, he might think that is a selling point too.

When, you want to sell things. You want to sell experiences. Not sell your mediocre performance, your lack of good governance and lack of pride in your own government. Because, this government has ruled for over 34 years and still haven’t fixed core issues.

So, now the Minister is praising potholes. Maybe, his mind has a pothole too. It is not cemented and mended correctly. As he wants people to not enjoy the sights of the Republic, but endure the bad state of the roads. Being stuck, getting into jams and struggling from A to B. When your in Rome, you want to see the Vatican. When your in Kampala, you want to see Mengo and the Kasubi Tombs. If that was too hard. People wouldn’t try to go there, but they do, because the roads are good enough.

If the roads to Masindi and Paraa sucked like hell. People would still go to Murchinson Falls. Still, it would make it more hectic and stressful. Because, people want to experience the beauty and greatness of the Republic. Not dilute their time on the road and break their backs. Neither should the locals, the residents, who suffers there every day. Those are the ones whose paying for the lack of care from the government. They are suffering this madness 24/7. The tourist only taste it for a minute and goes. It is not a fairytale nor exiting thing. Instead, its heartbreaking. Because, the public deserve better.

“I Pity The Fool” said Mt T. and I pity Henry for this proposal. His constituents deserve, every single citizen deserves better. He now wants the state to promote their lack work and diligence as an experience. Get out of here with that Bullshit. Peace.

Opinion: Parasites and lies, a walk against himself…

“I have never stolen anything from anybody. And I am also not a poor man” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the Walk Against Corruption on the 4^th December 2019

Today, was the official walk against Corruption in Kampala, as the President, the Anti-Corruption Unit at the State House and all other governing parties involved muster up a decent crowd of paid participants, staff and whatnot, security guards and whoever they could find. To walk a distance in the midst of Kampala.

At one point, the guards and security told pieces of the march to slow down, because it couldn’t walk faster than the President. Even as he went to Kololo, he still went at a rate, that was to slow too many. This walk will not change anything. It is a PR Stunt, which will not gain anything fruitful. It is more public wastage in order of looking sincere, which it is not and will never, be.

“It is a moral problem because you make yourself a parasite. Corrupt people are parasites because they get wealth which they did not earn, because they think that God does not see the bad things they do. In the last 60 years, I have been watching and I have not seen these corrupt people being successful sustainably” – Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the Walk Against Corruption on the 4th December 2019

With this in mind, the President is truthfully telling the world that his rich. His vastly rich, Ritchie Rich, rich actually. However, the President doesn’t tell how he got there. It was not like he had wealth and assets going into the role of the Presidency. Not like he had estates, businesses and ranches going in. No, he was an impoverished former Minister, who had gotten grants by mercy of Nyerere and who was hired by Obote II. That is who he was until 1986. Therefore, his wealth has come with power and with incentives given to him over time, also boosting his accounts and also his cronies.

Secondly, if it is a moral problem, then its engraved into this administration. If corrupt people are insects and parasites, there is surely a lot of them in his cabinet, in his offices and around his closest associates. Himself is a parasite then. Because, he haven’t gained wealth on innovation, marketing or basic business models, but by being in-office and getting bargain by kickbacks and inside deals.

Last, but not last. We can say you Mr. President has been successful, gaining more and more power, more and more money and depleting the state, little by little. To a point, where nothing isn’t up for grabs, where secret deals inside the State House decides, if they are staying or going. The Presidential Handshakes and whatnot is the ones crediting to you. That is why walking today is obnoxious and outrageous. Only naïve and dumbfounded people believes this PR Stunt.

The man cannot fight himself. He will not tarnish his own creation and destroy what he keeps him there. Therefore, this is charade, packed as a rally and a march against something. But in the end, it will only further show the rot, the plight and the suffering the actions made by this cause. Peace.

Follow the Code: A secret walk against corruption

“On 4th December, 2019, H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda will lead the walk code named Anti- corruption walk. The walk is aimed at intensifying the fight against corruption. The walk will start from Constitutional Square to Kololo and a number of people are expected to participate in this walk” (Uganda Police Force – ‘TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR ANTI-CORRUPTION WALK ON 4/12/2019’ 03.12.2019).

Merriam Webster states that a code name means: “a designation having a coded and usually secret meaning” (“Code name.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/code%20name). With this in mind, I never believed that His Excellency or the President is serious about this.

This is the President whose have had issues with demonstrations, protests and rebellion. Therefore, his not the man whose walking against anything. He was a rebel at one point, but that was for his own cause. That is why his stayed in power since 1986 and never left.

With that in mind, the man whose known for having someone close to his office or cabinet connected in some corruption every single year. It is seemingly happening, there are like those proverbs in the papers saying: “Missing Funds”, “Unaccounted Donor Grants”, “Fake Corporations/Products”, “Ghost Employees” and so-on. Even knowledge of kickbacks, secret agreements between the President and Foreign Investors. That is just happens on the regular.

That’s why the President has created dozens of agencies supposed to have the ability to monitor the state organizations, businesses and tenders. This being the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Office of the Auditor General (OAG), Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority(PPDA), Anti-Corruption Unit – State House or even the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA). All of these are supposed to combat the ill called corruption. Still, these are not able to do so, neither are the Judiciary nor the Law Enforcement they are working in tandem with.

That is why the walk is even more ridiculous, as if it’s not the man whose the V.I.P or the Fountain of Honour, whose often involved or accepts the corruption. That being some road-scandal, illegal tender nor the Presidential Handshake. Neither some procurement for some government agency played around with to ensure someone got greased.

So, this walk against corruption. The man whose behind the grand-corruption and his party is usually connected directly in these operations. That is why tomorrows walk is walking against itself. This is like the man who makes everyone sick, suddenly will drop the cure. The man who drops bombs over a nation, suddenly calls and walks for peace. It doesn’t work. That isn’t real!

Unless, the old man with the hat starts to shadow boxing himself, knock himself out and suddenly understand that his the problem. Not that it will happen. This is a PR stunt and nothing else. The NRM MPs, the ones who wants to show loyalty will show up. But everyone knows the state who does this on the regular. Will not stop doing it. That is why Total had secret talks in the State House with the President just this week.

We cannot expect anyone than the small-fry gets charged and taken into custody. The ones who are the big-fish will not touched, unless they have fallen out with Jajja. Peace.

Opinion: A never ending story called the Northern Bypass…

This is becoming a never ending story. Where the state, all the various ministries, state owned organizations and whoever gotten the tender has been able to finish the project of 21 kilometres or 23 kilometres. Since on that one this project even differs.

What we do know is that this have been in the courts over battle over payment for land. It has been postponed and stopped, because the company doing the work has been shoddy. There been plenty of controversy and not all good news. That is why these kilometres has taken so long to build and still isn’t finished.

It is really amazing how this continues and it seems that this will be prolonged even longer. Because, we know what season its getting into. Election season and then all sorts of budgets and campaigns whacks out everything else. Even if this one is now scheduled to be done by 2021. But we know how flexible the end-dates are. So don’t be confused if it is still unfinished in 2023 or 2025. Because this project that was launched in 2004 seems to be alive and kicking a little bit longer.

New Vision 2008:

“THE public is still awaiting the opening of the 21km Kampala Northern Bypass. The project was launched on May 20, 2004 and was to last 30 months, ending on November 19, 2006. It was later extended by 10 months to September 2007. This was later to change to March this year, which deadline was also not met. This delay is causing public concern. Apart from reports of extortion by the guards who allow motorists to use the road illegally, accidents are beginning to happen” (Chris Kiwawulo – ‘Will the Northern Bypass ever be completed?’ 25.04.2008).

JICA Report in 2010:

“The recent cooperation of the EU for the GKMA urban road sector is as follows:

• Kampala Northern Bypass: €47.5 million, Construction of 21 km bypass to relieve congestion in Kampala City (completed and opened to the public in October 2009).

• Technical Assistance to RAFU/UNRA: €2.0 million (on-going)” (JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY (JICA) – ‘THE STUDY ON GREATER KAMPALA ROAD NETWORK AND TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA –

FINAL REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – NOVEMBER 2010).

CSBAG Paper 2018:

“For example,the works on Kampala Northern Bypass registered a cumulative progress by end of June 2017 of 46.7% against the programmed 97.95%. The elapsed time was 98.81% based on the Original Program of Works. The major issues affecting progress is delayed site access, Design issues and Relocation of services” (…) “ Kampala Northern Bypass highlighted as a project to be concluded in FY 2018/19. This is not feasible as none of the six roundabouts which have sizable infrastructural and structural undertakings has been commenced on” (CSBAG – ‘CSO POSITION PAPER ON THE WORKS AND TRANSPORTSECTOR BUDGET FY2018/19’ 12.04.2018).

Article October 2019:

“The upgrade of the Kampala Northern by pass into a four-lane high way started back in 2014 with the completion date set for November 2018. However, the date has been pushed to 2021 due to a couple of challenges hindering the project which include; changes on the original design and compensation of the affected people. Mr. Allan Ssempebwa, UNRA’s media manager last month said that the works stood at 60% and mentioned that the interchanges at Sentema and Namungoona will be handed over to the government by the end of this year” (Patrick Mulyungi – ‘Uganda to launch three new footbridges on Kampala Northern Bypass’ 02.10.2019).

So, we are seeing the stages of building is either not done or postponed. This is all done by various of reasons. The Kampala Northern Bypass are really a long prolonged project that seemingly seems never to end. Even the government own paper wondered about that 11 years ago and we have to wait another two years. But knowing how this ones goes. Don’t expect the state to follow its timeline.

What I wondering about, how proud is the European Union for supporting the project and the longevity of this. There should be questions from the ones who has funded it and why it takes so long. Since, they are accepting it and surely gotten the explanations. Because, we who follows haven’t really.

There are lame duck excuses with the land and the state paying the ones living there. Where the state has to pay for the hurt of building a road on private land. If they planned this and commenced this in 2004. By the time of 2019, the state should have been able to settle this and know the route of the road. However, they are showing lack of due diligence and putting the work in.

Because, the Northern Bypass should have been done by now. That isn’t rocket-science. This is made like this since people are eating of this project. Not like it should take this long to finish a 21/23 kilometres long tarmacked road around Kampala. But apparently it does. Peace.