Rd project to open Musita-Lumino-Majanji-Busia country side ISSUE 32, OCTOBER 2014 Ntungamo-Kagitumba Road upgrade kicks-off i Station Grav RA Mpig N U ; e c n a n e t el Main For hire, please contact us on: 0758 090 178 / 0772 534 722 Backhoe Loaders 1. JCB 3DX EXTRA 2. CAT 428E Excavators 1. JCB JS200HD 2. JCB JS120 3. CAT 320 Wheel Loaders 1. CAT 962G 2. JCB 432ZX Drum Rollers 1. JCB VM115 2. HAMM HD13 Lowbed for hire WILSONS UGANDA (U) LTD Spring Road, Bugolobi, SIA Amara Plaza, Bugolobi. Behind Tuskys Supermarket P.O. Box 34576 Kampala (U) Email: wilsons.adm@gmail.com Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 Contents 6 6 Paved road to facilitate trade 8 10 Byabagambi hails British support on roads 11 New road to open Musita-Lumino-Majanji-Busia countryside 12 Gavel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station 23 UNRA to deliver 4km Namanve Road 24 26 28 Roads in the News 7 Progress, Mbarara-Kikagate-Murongo Bridge road project 23 Kamdin-Gulu Rd in construction gear UNRA update; October 2014 10 19 7 17 18 The Roads Magazine 3 FOREWORD Ntungamo-Mirama Hills Rd for broader trade T Dan Kitakule Alinange UNRA’s strategic direction Head of Corporate Communications 4 he upgrading of Ntungamo- particularly as the Ntungamo population whose R u h a a m a - K a g i t u m b a / communities the road traverses is conscious of Mirama Hills gravel road to their self-development potential. UNRA national standards has Further heartening is the involvement of commenced, bringing to the TradeMark East Africa, among whose stated objectives is to stream line and ease fore and highlighting a number of issues. The project is a product of Uganda government transportation, thereby reducing the cost of policy of investing in roads infrastructure to ease doing business necessary for nation building. and facilitate trade and commerce and service This is in keeping with TradeMark’s belief delivery to all Ugandans. The British support in �increased physical access to markets, reflects the European Union’s infrastructure enhanced trade environments, and improved development support to this country in furthering business competitiveness--to contribute to regional economic integration in a buildup to the increased economic growth and subsequent greater eastern Africa and great lakes region poverty reduction’. TradeMark’s ideals are indeed those of the market. The road project is a shorter access to the European Union, �a desire for an integrated East Republic of Rwanda than the better known Africa with flourishing trade, strong investment Ntungamo-Kabale-Katuna link, also supported and less poverty,’ hence its financial support. by the European Union, whose reconstruction is We are grateful to the British government that has made possible TradeMark’s support to this about complete. For the last six years, communities traversed by project. UNRA’s roads upgrading projects have seized the opportunities the efficiency of transportation offers to better their lives. Small-time producers have learnt to produce more and improve the quality of their produce for the market. Consumer goods manufacturers’ markets have broadened and the outreach of various service providers increased. In other words, the resultant benefits from this Dan Kitakule Alinange project need not only be inter-state but localized Head, Corporate Communications-UNRA Mandate To manage the provision and maintenance of the national roads network in a more efficient/effective manner and render advisory services to the government on roadsrelated matters Vision To efficiently manage a safe and well-developed national roads network Mission To develop and maintain a safe national roads network that fosters the economic development of Uganda. Grand Strategies • • Improve the condition of the national roads network, to ensure all year-round safe and efficient movement of people and goods Improve institutional capacity and corporate governance. Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 Rd project to open Musita-Lumino-Majanji-Busia country side PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE ISSUE 32, OCTOBER 2014 Tororo-Mbale-Soroti Road; insults cease A lot has been said in regard to the reconstruction of TororoMbale-Soroti Road along which I am a regular traveler. Many voices, for the most part critical and bordering on slander, have been fault-finding, discouraging and derogatorily vilifying for the duration of the implementation of this project. Not anymore as the more than 95mile project comes to an end; the reason is that the road has been brought to a good condition. While it comes natural for one to express themselves with unbounded energy when their feelings are stirred, I would rather think it should be equally as natural to put one’s thoughts to the learning of the causes of what one finds so offending. With a proper understanding of the issues at hand, one would then not need to expend energy crafting slurs and imputing improper motives upon otherwise well-meaning resultoriented organizations and individuals. For a good Tororo-Mbale-Soroti Road, I register my gratitude to Dott Services Ltd, the Contractor as indeed Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) for this accomplishment. It is now up to us the road users to show cause for our demand for a good road. Ntungamo-Kagitumba Road upgrade kicks-off e; UNRA Mpigi Gravel Maintenanc Station Cover Picture Ntungamo-Ruhaama-Kagitumba Road up-grade. The presidential flag-off at Ruhaama Sub-County. Inset is Symbolic ground-breaking. Coordinator JUSTIN.K. OJANGOLE jojangole@haiagency.com 0772 408 915/ 0702 408 915 Editorial, Photo Editing PAUL MUGABI paul.mugabi@gmail.com 0752 529 335 SHARON M. OMURUNGI omurungism@gmail.com Sales & Marketing KOSTA OPOLOT jkosta@haiagency.com GEORGE E.OMODING Justin K. Ojangole Publisher UNRA roads are ever improving; KampalaMasaka Road. Contributors PRESIDENTIAL PRESS UNIT (PPU) JOEL OGWANG WANYAMA ORLANDERSON Design & Layout STEPHEN SEGAWA mbsegawa@gmail.com 0772 589 190 For further information, Please contact: HAI Agency Uganda Limited JK Building after Tuskys Supermarket Ntinda P.O. Box 24413, Kampala Uganda Tel: +256 414 223507 / +256 772 408915 E-mail: jojangole@haiagency.com Website: www.haiagency.com Monthly Publication Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher does not guarantee the accuracy of content from contributors and advertisers nor accept responsibility of any statements herein. Key Success Factors Values • • • • • • • • Safety Customer focus Accountability Transparency Excellence Integrity Team work Efficiency • • • • • Attraction/retention of adequate skilled/experienced personnel Predictable and adequate financing Business-like operations Effective utilization of available resources Capacity of Local Contractor and Consultants • • • • Research and development of innovative approaches/technologies Performance measurement framework Zero-tolerance for unethical practices/corruption Good relationships/effective communication with key stakeholders The Roads Magazine 5 Ntungamo-Ruhaama-Kagitumba Rd upgrade Paved road to facilitate trade President Yoweri Museveni has expressed Uganda’s gratitude to Britain and its Department for International Development, (DFID) for funding the Ntungamo-Ruhaama-Kagitumba Road upgrade from gravel to a paved surface. The President said at Ruhaama Sub-county grounds, the venue for the project’s ground breaking that by supporting, “This facility that will facilitate trade, the British government had taken the right decision. It is a good investment for Ugandans and the East African region as it is good for our partners in the United States of America and United Kingdom--they will buy more from us and we shall buy more from them.” He said the future of the world is through trade, “Recently traveling through Europe and USA, I found that there was an inadequate demand for goods and services, yet in African the demand is going up. The purchasing power is still low but growing.” President Museveni noted that the proportion of Ugandans in the money economy is still low; the 2002 census revealed that only 32% of the population was in the cash economy, the rest in subsistence, only growing food to meet domestic needs, without bothering about money. He therefore urged every family to engage in commercial agriculture and benefit from roads upgrade like this one. 1 6 Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 4 3 5 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. An array of Zhongmei road construction equipment. Applauding the President after commissioning Ntungamo-Kagitumba Rd upgrade. An elderly partisan. TradeMark’s Allen Asiimwe, UNRA’s Angela Kiryabwire, UK High Commissioner Alison Blackburne and TradeMark’s David Stanton. “Prophets of doom have been put to shame; the road project has taken off,’’ Ruhaama MP Janet Museveni. 2 The Roads Magazine 7 Ntungamo-Ruhaama-Kagitumba Rd upgrade Byabagambi hails British support on roads Works State Minister John Byabagambi has said and Uganda government and people are grateful for Trade Mark East Africa and British Department For International Development (DFID) for supporting Ntungamo-RuhaamaKagitumba gravel road upgrade to tarmac. The road project, an artery of the Northern Corridor, is costing UShs75bn of which Uganda government contributing 50% and Trade Mark DFID the other 50% Zhongmei Engineering Group is the Contractor. Hon Byabagambi noted that the European Union and Uganda’s other development partners have assisted Uganda government rehabilitate the Northern Corridor Route. Malaba/Busia-Bugiri Road reconstruction has been completed earlier this year; Masaka-Mbarara Road was completed in 2012 and Kampala-Masaka Road completion is due before the end of 2014. Works on Mbarara Bypass are underway while Buteraneiro-Katuna section completion is due by June 2015. Ntungamo-Ruhaama-Kagitumba 37km road upgrade to will deliver a 7m wide road with 1.5m-wide shoulders and 2.75m-wide parking lanes. Built-up areas will have 3.5m-wide parking lanes and 2m-wide raised shoulders. The Minister gave government’s assurance that every project affected person shall be equitably compensated. �Deliver the road on time, at cost,’ Hon John Byabagambi seems to urge Eng. Han Dongling, a Zhongmei Executive. TradeMark support to Uganda roads TradeMark East Africa’s Director General, David Stanton has noted that Ntungamo-RuhaamaKagitumba road will be a strong link between Uganda and Rwanda at the western end of the Northern Corridor Route. He congratulated Uganda government for rehabilitating the northern corridor into a viable transport corridor and noted that the investment in modernising transport infrastructure will trigger the region’s prosperity. TradeMark East Africa and the Department for International Development (DFID) is contributingUS$22m towards the upgrade construction expected to last 18 months up to April 2016. British High Commissioner in Uganda, Ms. Alison Blackburn and TradeMark East Africa Uganda Country Director, Ms Allen Asiimwe were among the dignitaries at the October 6, 2014 8 TradeMark East Africa Director General David Stanton, “The road will promote trade.’’ Ruhaama Sub-county road’s ground-breaking ceremony. “Prices in Uganda are high due to the high costs of transportation in the country…42 per cent of the cost of goods in Kampala represent the cost of transport from Mombasa. Trade Mark East Africa is therefore keen on helping the government to drive down these costs,” Stanton thus explained TradeMark involvement in the road’s upgrade. He also argued that this TradeMark East Africa support should significantly reduce the time and cost of transporting goods to Rwanda through Mirama Hills one stop border post, “Freight costs/ kilometre in the east African region are more than 50% higher than those in the United States and Europe. For landlocked countries, transport costs can be as high as 45% of the value of exports.” Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 British High Commissioner, Alison Blackburne The British Department for International development (DFID) collaboration with Uganda has enabled UNRA to reduce the unit cost of a paved road construction from about US$1.2m/km to US$700’000/km. DFID facilitates UNRA’s engagement of an independent consultancy that evaluates its procurement process and functions as the benchmark of the procurement outcomes. This has ensured less than 5 per cent divergence from what the Independent Bid Evaluation (IDBE) recommends, hence improved the confidence of service providers in UNRA’s activities and reduced the frequency of challenges to UNRA’s processes. The procedure has increased the pace at which UNRA delivers services. “DFID support has helped reduce roads construction costs,’’ UK High Commissioner Alison Blackburne. The Roads Magazine 9 Progress, Mbarara-Kikagate-Murongo Bridge road project The 67km Mbarara-Kikagati-Murongo Bridge road project, inclusive of 7km Isingiro-Mabona loop has been a gravel road (in the South Western Uganda), through Mbarara and Isingiro Districts to Tanzania at Murongo Bridge border, across the Akagera River. The road begins at the Mbarara Municipal Council signpost at the interface where the road construction changes from paved to gravel. It effectively connects Uganda to Tanzania and Rwanda. 10 This road’s upgrade project, a design and build contract is being executed by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Ltd with a construction period of 36 months. COWI A/S and COWI Uganda Ltd, in association with Multiplan consulting Engineers are providing consultancy services for design review, and management of the work contract and construction works supervision. Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 New road to open Musita-LuminoMajanji-Busia countryside E conomic development through Musita, Lumino and Majanji sleepy country-side has a realistic prospect for catching up with the rest of the country, when the 50km road project traversing it is completed in 2017. Musita-Lumino-Majanji road traverses the five districts of Mayuge, Iganga, Bugiri, Namayingo, and Busia, stemming from Musita on Jinja-Iganga Highway. The execution of this UShs200b project contracted to M/s China Railway 18th Breau Group Co. Ltd, will commence at the end of 2014 and will be completed in August 2017. In the current state of the road, the transportation of local agricultural produce to the market in Jinja, Iganga, Busia, Bugiri districts and in Kenya, and Tanzania is a struggle. For the most part though, the road transports goods from Kenya and Tanzania to the different parts of Uganda. However, the sale of sugarcane, jackfruit, charcoal, avocado, fish, and makeshift roadside eateries represent the local economy. A few taxis operate Musita-Lumino trading centre route that motorcycles rather dominate at UShs20,000 one way. Thirteen trading centres sprawl along the road; Musita, Lugolole, Muyuge town council, Mpungwe, Bwalula, Nankoma, Muterere, Mayuge Bukooli, Kifuyo, Namayingo town council, Lunyo, and Lumino. Faisal Edinana, a boda boda operator at Musita stage, says road accidents have increased because the existing gravel road surface is slippery and poorly drained which thugs take advantage of to harass travellers. Kibila Bashir, a businessman in Mayuge trading centre, says if the road is upgraded, transport costs could reduce and the people in the area would boost their household, “About 98 percent of our people depend on agriculture but the road network is poor yet Mayuge is a food basket of Jinja, Iganga, and other neighbouring areas.” Kibila also says the businessmen have resorted to transporting their goods on water across Lake Victoria to Jinja, Tanzania, and Kenya for a better market, denying people along this road an opportunity to benefit from transportation. Nuulu Nankwanga, a restaurant operator in Lumino trading centre in Busia District, says an improved road network will enable many undertakings to thrive, “This will also create employment opportunities for the youth.” Musita-Lumino-Busia Rd through Liyimbi forest The Roads Magazine 11 Gavel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station Clearing Mpigi Roads reserves W orking in conjunction with the Land Protection Police, UNRA Mpigi Station is clearing BusegaMityana Road reserve of illegal structures. The Station Engineer, Matovu Musisi says, “We are sensitizing people that the road reserve is set aside for future developments of a road. By running business in the road reserve, people become a safety hazard to themselves and other road users.” He says the most stubborn people were those dealing in sand, building blocks, slates and eucalyptus poles. Whereas some have heeded UNRA’s advice and moved off, many others are reluctant. “After a grace period of two weeks, a wheel loader moves in and clears the reserves. People who have lost realize that operating from reserves is costly. This is a continuous activity because if UNRA relaxes even for a week, they will return,” Eng Matovu notes. The local politicians’ quest to appease their perceived voters is something of another challenge in roads reserves enforcement. “Our people earn a living by operating from the reserves,” they argue as the local authorities collecting dues from roads reserves activities are not helpful either. Urged to acquire safe locations for such activities so that they legitimately collect taxes, the retort is that they do not have the necessary money, further reasoning that there would be no customers off the roads, hence no tax collections. The Local Authorities’ other omission is to ignore the Local Government Act requiring a space of 3m from a road reserve in urban areas and 6m in rural areas. The practice however, is that developments, whose construction plans are duly approved by the authorities, are right at the edge of the reserve. The authorities have the powers they could enforce if they wanted to. 12 Unacceptable; a development right at the edge of the road reserve. Gavel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station Eng Matovu Isaac Musisi Mpigi UNRA Station Engineer Matovu Musisi, “The priority is to keep the gravel network open at all times.’’ For more than 20 years, Eng Matovu Isaac Musisi now UNRA Mpigi Station Engineer has been working in road construction, starting with the Ministry of Works he joined as Asst Eng in 1992. He was elevated to District Engineer in 1995 and deployed to Hoima and later Mbale. He was deployed at UNRA Kampala Station as Station Engineer when he joined UNRA in 2008; he is at the same position at UNRA Mpigi Station since Jan 2014, addressing roads network bottlenecks. A family man, he holds Masters Degrees in Construction Management, as well as Transport Planning and Engineering. UNRA Mpigi Station network traverses a largely agricultural countryside. Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 Focus on UNRA Mpigi Station Eng Matovu plea; “You need to treat roads like they are yours—lest you will not have access to services; roads should be owned by the people whether working with UNRA or not.” “Most of UNRA Mpigi Station network roads are in a fair to good condition; none is in poor state. We improved on those that were in poor state during the last financial year and now concentrating on improving the drainage through low lying areas on the gravel network by installing more culverts and raising roads along the affected stretches,” Eng Matovu Musisi, the Station Engineer says. The Station has submitted two term-maintenance packages; Mpigi-Kasanje-Buwaya (21.5km) road and Kanoni-Misigi-Mityana (39km) road along with Mitala Maria-Bulo-Kanoni (30km) road and Mityana-Busunju (30km) road, for procurement. The other package for periodic Maintenance covers Kayabwe-Nkozi-Kabulasoke (45km) road and Lukolo-Bunjako (13km) road together with Kabasanda-Kakindu-Zigotti (20.5km) road. UNRA Mpigi Station in-house roads maintenance unit has just improved a road stretch of close to 1km through a papyrus swamp at km 12 from Kanoni along Misigi-Kanoni road. The river has been trained, 3 culvert lines of 600mm installed and the road raised by 300mm, over-all improving on the drainage. A similar intervention has been planned for Nyanzi Swamp, 25km from Kanoni with same equipment. The Station has a roller, grader, 2 tippers, a water tank and wheel loader-a complete set of UNRA equipment in a good condition. Eng Matovu’s plan is that the Station’s next project is spot gravelling following the grading of Kanoni-Maddu Road that is already programmed for upgrading; “We need not allow it to develop bottlenecks while we wait for the contractor.” A problematic stretch through Mayanja Swamp along Nakawuka-Bujuuko-Kakiri Road is also scheduled for improvement following a wash-out of some culverts between Bujuuko and Kakiri settlements. The swamp is now being de-silted and the papyrus weed blocked culverts opened in a comprehensive intervention to protect the road. Other ongoing drainage improvement interventions comprise stone pitching along Mpigi-Kasanje Road and at Sekanyonyi, 18km from Kikonge along Kikonge-Sekanyonyi-Mate Road in Mityana district, a stretch of about 600m. The Station is also carrying out drainage desilting through built-up areas especially close to Kampala. Eng Matovu explains that people managing petty businesses between Busega and Nsangi and Busega and Muduuma treat the highway drainages as rubbish dumps; they trap silt when it rains and fill up. “These drainages are clogged through road-side business day-time activities. For now this is an in-house activity while the Station’s bills of quantities for term maintenance contracts for these roads are still under procurement,” Matovu explains. His concern this far is the “shortage of equipment challenges;” the 700km network requires two maintenance units to keep it a good motorable state. The existing one unit will suffice if the maintenance contracts come on board.” Kanoni-Misigi-Mityana Road; motorable but needs engineering to national standards. The Roads Magazine 13 Ruhaama Ground-Break 2 1 1. Local Govt State Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana in a discussion with Zhongmei’s Eng Han Dongling. 2. DFID Economist Christine Mugoya, TradeMark (U) Country Manager Allen Asiimwe 3. Hullos to the VIPs at Ruhaama. 4. UNRA Board Chairperson Angela Kiryabwire, UK High Commissioner Alison Blackburne, TradeMark Director General David Stanton. 5. An entertainer receives a Presidential handshake. 3 6. TradeMark (U) Country Director Allen Asiimwe and Director General David Stanton, UK High Commissioner H.E. Alison Blackburne. 7. Hon Naome Kabasharira, Infrastructure Committee Chairman, Ephraim Gashaga Biraro H.E. Alison Blackburne, Hon John Byabagambi, Ms Allen Asiimwe the President and his wife. 8. Ruhaama MP Hon Janet Museveni, received by UNRA Board Chairperson Angela Kiryabwire. 9. Ugandan spirit ... 10. Celebrating the paving of the road through Ruhaama Sub-County. 14 4 Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 5 8 6 9 7 10 The Roads Magazine 15 Chebrot urges contractors to be professional The State Minister for Transport, Hon Stephen Chemoiko Chebrot, has urged the local contractors to work professionally and desist from mismanaging their contracts through shoddy work and the abandoning of sites despite the payment they receive. He said this practice makes them uncompetitive in the face of foreign competition. The Minister said at the 12th edition’s three-day Construction and Interior Exhibition at Lugogo Show Grounds main hall that attracted foreign exhibitors from Italy, Israel, Turkey, and Kenya among others. “It is gratifying that the scope of exhibitors include companies engaged in real estate development, road construction, roofing products, paints and finishes, site equipment and mortgage solutions,” he said. He pledged the Ministry of Works and Transport commitment to address, “All the bottlenecks that hinder the industry to play its rightful role in making our economy competitive and the preferred destination for investment.” Uganda government appreciates the contribution of a developed infrastructure as the avenue to attracting investment in manufacturing, the services and ICTS sectors 1 2 3 1. UNRA’s 2014 Construction exhibition at Lugogo. 2. Interest. 5. Minister Stephen Chebrot records comments on UNRA 2014 construction exhibition. 3. Giving the answers. 6. Appreciating UNRA’s New Nile Bridge artist’s dummy. 4. Curiosity at UNRA’s stall. 7. Absorbing information on UNRA. Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 4 6 5 7 The Roads Magazine 17 UNRA Board on Kampala-Entebbe Expressway Project tour 1 2 3 1. UNRA Board Members on a working tour. 2. Motorised UNRA Board Members arrive to see Kampala-Entebbe Expressway progress. 3. Equipment that drills the piers’ foundations. 4. Robust supports for KampalaEntebbe Expressway bridge over a wetland. 4 18 Gravel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 UNRA Mpigi Station Force Account operations The type of freight on NakiwogoEntebbe ferry Smoothing out bottlenecks Jacob Asiimwe is UNRA Mpigi Station Assistant Engineer for Force Account. He says during Financial year 20142015 first quarter, UNRA Mpigi Station has graded and carried out medium grading of and sport gravelling bottleneck areas along 34km Kanoni –Maddu Road. The populations of the localities the road traverses are dairy farmers, ranchers and agricultural farmers (maize). The road connects to Mubende (maize fields) and leads to Kisozi ranches. Tea growing and timbertree plantations are also local to the area. Mitala Maria-Bulo-Kanoni 30km Road too, has benefitted from medium grading and some spot gravelling in the last quarter of the last Financial Year. Medium grading is the scarifying of a surface using a motor grader, reshaping, watering and then compacting; light grading only makes the riding surface smooth. It has been earmarked for term maintenance, a contract that is still under procurement. Without any prior periodic maintenance, it is narrow and its gravel has long washed away hence the Station’s Force Account plans to work on it while the term maintenance contractor is procured. Other drainage improvements are the Jalamba 0.5km+ either side stone pitching. Mpigi, Butambala, Gomba through Kanoni to Sembabule are agricultural areas, hence the road is a busy one. Energoprojekt is upgrading the road from Mpigi to Kanoni. Kabasima swamp rising Working with UNRA for 6 years, Road Overseer Ssemakula Raphael’s work is roads maintenance entailing, among others, the supervision of grading The Roads Magazine 19 Gravel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station during routine maintenance. He has overseen Kabasima swamp rising, inclusive of river training, three lines of 600mm culverts installation and 300mm thickness gravelling, and an intervention that took two weeks to execute along KanoniMpigi-Mityana Road. The 600mm lines at the ends of the swamp are supporting the initial 900mm culvert lines. Another intervention would be necessary after 8 months. It is costly but at the end of the day, we realize it takes more input to realize the objective. Nyanzi swamp is to benefit from a similar activity. Following previous rains floods, the swamps had over-flowed, severing the road and hampering the delivery of essential services. Edges repairs Road Overseer Julius Ahura’s Force Account team is on stone pitching 700m of drains and repairing Budo-Nakasozi Road edges. It is also repairing the edges and patching as well as stone pitching Nabbingo access road from Kampala-Masaka Highway, significant roads in that they access notable public institutions. “These are under UNRA jurisdiction. We plan to have major works on them, like we have done on Nkozi University and Kako School accesses RCC has executed. Stone-pitching at Buwaya Robert Sebabi Kakooza, a Road Inspector is overseeing stone pitching and installation of 18m of access culverts along 415m stretch on one side of Mpigi-Kasanje-Buwaya Road into Buwaya where flowing water was eroding the road edges as the soil in the area is loose. The Force Account has also carried out medium grading and spot gravelling on this 21km busy road connecting Mpigi to Entebbe. It had developed gullies and potholes, being convenient to sand truckers from Buwaya to Kampala. It is programmed for paving as a tourism boosting road and planned for term maintenance. Gabions will be used to reinstate the road’s width. This important tourist road links Mpigi to Entebbe through Buwaya Ferry in only 30min. Building material, especially sand is extracted from Buwaya area and trafficked along the road on to Nakawuka and Natete. The only vehicle load control in this area is at Buwama where a mobile weigh bridge has been installed. Trucks are per custom overloaded, damaging the road hence quite fast road failure rate. Obliterated drains are recovered Road Overseer Ahura Julius is overseeing de-silting and roads reserve clearing on Busega-Maya-Kamengo-Lwera Road and Busega-Mityana Road. Busega-Maya and Kamengo-Lwera Road de-silting works have this Financial Year been completed, arresting the erosion of the road especially through Kayabwe. 20 Kabasima Swamp raising. Sand truckers from Lweera park and spill some of their cargo at Kayabwe completely obliterating the drains. Busega-Mityana road drainages have also been dredged; populations in built-up areas tend to dump garbage into road drains. About km8 from Kampala through Nsangi, the constructions on hill cause a silt cascade into the road’s drains whenever it rains. The team has also worked we have worked on roads reserves clearing. The belief is that business close to the roads is the way. Been working with local community leaders of Nsangi Sub County and Kamengo, Buwama and Nkozi Sub Counties-all the local governments from Busega to Lweera response is positive but Buwaya to Kampala is challenging as people think they must subsist on the roads and therefore dump garbage. We discuss drains and the road reserve in Roads Committee interactions; the people are beginning to appreciate that interfering with the drains and roads reserves is a cost to roads maintenance. People along Busega-Maya and Kamengo-Lweera stretches have largely been responsive to UNRA’s requirement to evacuate road reserves, like communities along the first ten kilometres from Busega to Mityana. Others Gravel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 Eng Matovu Musisi and Asst Eng Jacob Asiimwe at Nabinyonyo gravel borrow pit. Stone pitching; Mpigi-Buwaya-Kasanje is a busy road to Entebbe, through Buwaya Ferry. Kabasima Swamp has been a bottleneck; river is trained, 3 culvert lines installed, road raised. along the stretch to Mityana claim they have not received compensation for their expropriated pieces of land, hence retain a legitimate claim to the reserve. They nonetheless appreciate that they will one day leave the reserves. Parasitic Local Authorities too find it difficult to appreciate that the roads reserves landlord, UNRA needs to be acknowledged in the rental of bill-board space. Further, Road Committees along UNRA network assume UNRA need to facilitate them arguing they have no budget for their functions; officials at sub-counties especially demand for �facilitation’ to call the meetings. Worn-out road repairs The Force Account is stone-pitching 400m side drain on KikongeSekanyonyi-Mate Road that joins Hoima Road. It is this link that heavy construction vehicles used to carry material for Busega-Mityana Road reconstruction. Road Overseer, Balyenti Gilbert says the road was worn out and has been out of repair. The road is on a slope, hence easily gullied with the run-off draining into people’s residences disrupting life in Sekanyonyi settlement, hence this intervention to redirect the run-off. The road traverses a maize production area hence it is very busy during harvest time; it also ferries livestock from KanoniMisigi-Mityana road to Busunju and Mityana. Nakiwogo Ferry Jerome Ssewabuga has operated Nakiwogo Ferry, carrying vehicles, transits food, motorcycles and pedestrian passengers for the last three years. He notes that 2.5ton sand truckers tend to load up to 5tons, “We carry four empty trucks, and only three if loaded, an equivalent of about 15tons besides the passengers. In all we carry about 25tons against a pay-load capacity of 60tons. The ferry is in a good shape—engines are regularly maintained.” The Roads Magazine 21 Gavel Maintenance; UNRA Mpigi Station Mpigi Roads reserves W orking in conjunction with Land Protection Police, Mpigi UNRA Station is sensitizing the people along Busega-Mityana Road that a road reserve is set aside for the road’s future developments hence occupying it for business or other activities is a safety hazard to themselves and the motoring road users. UNRA Mpigi Station Engineer, Matovu Musisi faults local authorities for turning a blind eye to the dictates of the Local Government Act; “It requires that developers can only build 3m beyond the road reserve limit in urban areas and 6m in rural areas. The practice, however, is that people make development right at the edge of the reserve, yet their construction plans are approved by the authorities with the enforcement powers if they wanted to.” The most challenging road reserve abuse is the sale of sand, building blocks and slates and eucalyptus poles. Some of the encroachers have moved taken heed and removed themselves while others are somewhat reluctant to leave in which case UNRA gives them a two-week’ grace period. “If they do not respond, UNRA personnel moves in with a wheel loader and clears whatever stuff they would have set up on the road reserve without further ado,” Eng Matovu explains. With such action, some people operating from road reserves have incurred losses and realized that their activities are too costly. Engineer Matovu says, “This is a continuous activity because once UNRA relaxes even for a week, the encroachers will be back on the road reserves.” He says the enforcement of national roads reserves is not without challenges from politicians of various calibers. Political leaders argue that their electorates, who abuse the roads reserves, are legitimately earning a living while local authorities that collect dues from those operations say their eviction would deprive their local governments’ of revenue. The Station is also carrying out drainage de-silting especially close to Kampala in built-up areas between 22 A sprawling sand-dump starts on a road’s shoulder. Defiant; road reserve guidelines are ignored. Note encircled UNRA’s road reserve mark post. Busega and Nsangi and Busega to Muduuma. People managing petty businesses in these areas use the drainages as rubbish dumps, and when it rains, the drains get silted. Eng Matovu says, “UNRA urges such local authorities to acquire safe places that can be gazzeted for such activities so that they legitimately collect taxes. For the most part, they say they do not have the money for land and argue that the affected people would not get customers off the roads, hence tax revenue would not be forthcoming.” Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 UIA ED Frank Ssebbowa, Investment Minister Ajedra Alidru, Roofings Chairman Mzee Lalani and Works Minister Abraham Byandala. UNRA to deliver 4km Namanve Road “UNRA is committed to delivering a durable road, supporting the various undertakings in Kampala Industrial Park,” Eng Ssebbugga-Kimeze said, voicing UNRA’s intent on delivering on its mission. U ganda Investment Authority is developing a well diversified portfolio of Industrial Parks, with Kampala Industrial and Business Park the first to be developed and designed to enable manufacturers to benefit from regional comparative advantages. Construction works on the 4km access roads through Kampala Industrial Park are underway. The roads are constructed to 7.0m wide asphalt concrete carriageway with 1.0m asphalt concrete shoulders and associated drainages and safety features. UNRA Acting ED, Eng Ssebbugga-Kimeze said the authority is determined to meet the Government’s priority in roads construction to ensure the reliability of transport infrastructure towards sustainable economic growth. With earthworks on roads through Kampala Industrial Park almost complete, the contractor shall proceed with the placement of the upper pavement layers that should be completed by April 2015. Aurecon AMEI Ltd and Spencon–Stirling Joint Venture are the Consultant/ Engineer and Contractor respectively at UShs6bn for the civil works. Addressing Works and Transport Minister Hon Abraham Byandala at a press briefing following the inspection and commissioning of Namanve Industrial Park road project, Eng Ssebbugga-Kimeze noted that the project road starts from Kampala–Jinja mainline via Uganda Investment Authority offices and terminates at Roofings Ltd Plant. He also revealed that the design for the upgrade to a paved standard of the entire road link from Jokers Hotel to Seeta, a total of 14km has been completed. Other planned complementary interventions are Kampala–Jinja Expressway, now under procurement processes whose construction is expected to start in 2017. The Roads Magazine 23 Roads in the News addresing public concerns UNRA’s vision is to operate a safe, efficient and well-developed national roads network, in keeping with the mission, “To develop and maintain a national roads network that is responsive to the economic development needs of Uganda, to the safety of all road users, and to the environmental sustainability of the national roads corridors.” Thus, UNRA’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dan K. Alinange herewith responds to public concerns about aspects of road construction, maintenance, safety and incidental inquiries. Terego residents protest a dangerous bridge Daily Monitor, Friday August 8, 2014. Page 29 “Communities of Cilio Parish, Aiivu Sub-county in Arua District plan say a bridge over Enyau River could collapse if it is not quickly fixed. It connects Arua district to Kubala in Terego Country, the shortest route preferred by traders, tobacco farmers and transporters,” Ms Jessica Candiru the councillor representing Aiivu Sub-county said. By clement Aluma UNRA Response This is one of the bridges planned for reconstruction starting next year. Why doesn’t the Northern by-pass have ring roads? New Vision, Wednesday August 6, 2014. Page 13 I have observed elsewhere that whenever there is a flyover, a ring road which connects one to the by-pass is a must. So, what has happened to the Northern by-pass ring roads? I only see the ones on Jinja road (Nambole) and Bombo road (Bwaise). Where are the others? By Wilbert Openytho. UNRA Response The ring roads around flyovers are only at Nambole and at Bwaise, the rest are just roundabouts or overpass bridges. In the second 24 phase of expanding the bypass, all the roundabouts will be replaced with flyovers like those at Nambole and Bwaise. After completion of the second phase, motorists will be able to drive nonstop from Nambole to Busega. UNRA should be clear on road construction schedule Daily Monitor, Wednesday, July 30, 2014 Page 12 We highly appreciate government’s proposed East African commercial highway that will uplift the standard by the road construction. However Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) should sensitise affected residents on real proposed plan work schedule and also pay them in time. There is a proposed fly-over and giant round- about opposite my village house in Buvunya, Najjembe Sub-county, Buikwe District. In the area, about 20 houses and a huge piece of land belonging to peasants will give way for the road beautification. Road demarcation in the area started way back in early 2011 and the second phase started this year. By Emma Masumbuko Najjembe Sub-County. UNRA Response It is true the area mentioned above will be affected by the construction of the new Kampala-Jinja Expressway. UNRA is working with IFC Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 our transaction advisor on this project to put in place a robust communication strategy to sensitise the communities affected by the project. more and more difficult to keep some of these heavily trafficked roads as murram. UNRA is now moving towards �term maintenance’ for many of these corridors so that contractors keep these roads in good motorable condition for the next 2 to 3 years. Over 200 passengers stranded on impassable Moyo-Adjumani road New committee to monitor road contracts Daily Monitor, Friday July 18, 2014. Page 16 At least 200 passengers were on Wednesday stranded for four hours after three buses travelling to Kampala got stuck on the Moyo-Adjumani road. Some of the passengers called upon the government to tarmac road, which they said becomes impassable during the rainy season. By Martin Okudi UNRA Response Daily Monitor, Tuesday July 1, 2014 Page 23 The civil society and UNRA on June 23, named a team of nine people comprising of members from the civil society government and the private sector, especially those in the roads construction sector, to monitor government projects across the country. Code-named multistakeholder group, the team is charged with disclosing information about government contracts. By Leonard Mwesigwa UNRA has completed the designs for upgrading Atiak-Moyo-Adjumani road and is now sourcing for funding. We hope funds will be availed next year to start working on this road. UNRA Response UNRA pinned over roads. Mayuge road in need of maintenance By Chris Kiwawulo By Betty Angatai New Vision, Thursday, July 10, 2014 Page 9 Several Uganda National Roads Authority roads in Mubende district were poorly done, the Resident District Commissioner, Florence Beyunga, has said. Beyunga said, “There are many complaints lodged in my office about UNRA roads. These officials are being paid for air (doing nothing). This needs to be checked.” UNRA welcomes this development. We believe this move will help to promote trust and transparency in all road construction projects at all levels as a tool to ease information flow and provide transparency. New Vision, Monday, June 16, 2014 Page 13 Motorists plying 85.5km Musita-Majanji road in Mayuge district are facing a hard time. “We usually take several hours to move from Mayuge town to Musita. We may spend an hour or more on a bad stretch of the road instead of 15 minutes,” notes Kamadi Ndansiru, a regular user of the road. UNRA Response UNRA Response UNRA has not received an official complaint from the RDC’s office concerning the quality of roads managed by this organisation. It is important to note that murram roads managed by UNRA are more heavily trafficked than those managed by the Districts. It is becoming The contract for upgrading of Musita-Lumino-Busia/Majanji road to tarmac has been awarded and works are expected to start during the month of December 2014. The Roads Magazine 25 The Commissioining. Kamdin-Gulu Rd in construction gear Kamdin- Gulu Road has not seen major repairs since 1969 during Milton Obote’s government P reparations for the construction of the UShs62bn Kamdin-Gulu Road have kicked off with, surveying and mapping of its alignment. The construction will involve processing of the existing wearing course and 150mm into the road base. UNRA Gulu Station Manager, Eng Jimmy Adwek says China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the firm contracted for the road’s reconstruction, are carrying out provisional road maintenance keeping as smooth transportation as possible, whilst preparations/the process of equipment and manpower mobilisation is undertaken, “We are grateful that the activities on the ground are indicative of the commencement of work.” LC 111 Chairperson Koro Sub County, Santos Uhuru is gratified that many youth have secured casual labour employment and looks forward to enhanced “Development in Gulu, the neighboring districts and the region at large. There is no doubt that with a good road net work, farmers in Koro Sub County will be able to sell their produce to satisfy the demand for food stuffs in the neighboring districts.” Infrastructural development in Northern Uganda is part of 26 the reconstruction of a region that is recovering from twodecades of insurgency. Gulu District Chairman, doubling as the Chairperson of Acholi Sub Region district chairpersons, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi is hopeful that the road will be the key to the prosperity of northern Uganda population, the gate-way to South Sudan. He anticipates increased transportation with attendant business boom, “We are asking for support to our local communities to develop small scale industries to feed the available market.” At the project’s commissioning ceremony in April 2014, Works and Transport Minister Hon Abraham Byandala said the initiative would enhance the economic empowerment of the local population in their fight against poverty. The construction is expected to be completed in 24months. Kamdini- Gulu Road has not seen major repairs since 1969 during Milton Obote’s government. Northern Director Uganda National Chamber of Commerce, Mark Moro expects a good road to improve Northern Uganda’s economic prospects, “Leaders are mobilizing communities to utilize the opportunity coming with the ease of transportation to improve their lives, rather than leave it for people originating from elsewhere.” Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 The Roads Magazine 27 UGANDA NATIONAL ROADS AUTHORITY A Well Developed Roads Network ROAD WORKS UPDATE OCTOBER 2014 Since its formation in July 2008, UNRA has taken a big step in the provision and maintenance of National Roads in a more efficient and effective manner. As you travel upcountry, you can see observable evidence that our roads are getting better and Uganda National Roads Authority is delivering on its mandate. UNRA is determined to contribute to national development through better and safe roads. Since UNRA started operations, over 1,500km of tarmac roads have been constructed or reconstructed. There are over 2000km of major roads currently under construction. Ongoing major projects There are over 2,300km of major roads currently under construction. These roads include; 28 Road Project KM Status 1 Kampala (Busega)-Masaka (Phase ll) Funded by GOU 51 90% of works completed. The project will be completed by December 2014 2 Tororo- Mbale- Soroti (Funded by GOU) 152 80% of the works done. Tororo-Mbale-Soroti will be handed over in December 2014. 3 Jinja-Kamuli(Funded by GOU): 60 90% of the works done and the project will be handed over in December 2014. 4 Kawempe-Luwero-Kafu (Overlay)(Funded by GOU) 166 90% of the works done and the road will be completed in December 2014. 5 Hoima-Kaiso-Tonya road (Funded by GOU) 92 90% of the works done and the project will be completed by Dec 2014 6 Gulu-Atiak road (Funded by WB/GOU) 74 70% of the works done and the project will be completed by June 2015 7 Vurra – Arua – Koboko – Oraba (Funded by WB/ GOU) 92 70% of the works done and the project will be completed by June. 2015 8 Mbarara (Buteraniro) – Ntungamo(Funded by EU/ GOU): 59 80% of the works done and the project will be completed by June 2015 9 Ntungamo-Katuna Road (Funded by EU/GOU): 74 70% of the works done and the project will be completed by June. 2015. 10 Mukono – Jinja (Funded by GOU) 52 70% of the works done and the road will be completed by June 2015. 11 Ishaka – Kagamba (Funded by GOU) 35 40% of the works done and the project will be completed by June 2015. 12 Nakapiriprit – Moroto road (Funded by GOU) 93 40% of the works done and the project will be completed by January 2016. 13 Kampala-Entebbe Express Highway with a spur to Munyonyo (Funded by China EXIM bank/ GOU) 51 30% of the works done and the project will be completed by Dec. 2017. 14 Kamwenge-Fort Portal (Funded by WB/GOU) 65 20% of the works done. The project will be completed by January 2016. 15 Kafu-Kiryandongo (Funded by GOU) 43 20% of the works done. The project will be completed by June 2015. 16 Luuku-Kalangala (Staged upgrading under PPP) 66 30% of works completed The Roads Magazine Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 17 Atiak –-Nimule (Funded by JICA/GOU) 37 20% of the works done. 18 Mbarara-Bypass (Funded by EIB/GOU) 40 5% of the works done 19 Mpigi-Kanoni (Funded by GOU) 64 5% of works completed 20 Mukono-Kyetume-Katosi/ Kisoga-Nyenga(Funded by GOU) 74 10% of works completed 21 Kiryandongo-Kamdini-Gulu 123 (Funded by GOU) 5% of works done 22 Ntungamo-Kakitumba/Mirama Hills (Funded by DFID/TMEA/ GOU) 37 Physical works have commenced. 23 Expansion of Kampala Northern Bypass (Funded by EU/EIB/GOU 17 Physical works have commenced. 24 Kanoni-Ssembabule-Villa Maria (Funded by GOU) 120 Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014 25 Musiita-Lumino-Busia/Majanji (Funded by GOU) 104 Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014 26 Pakwach-Nebbi (Funded by GOU) 30 Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014 27 Acholi Bur – Musingo (Funded by GOU) 86 Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014 28 Olwiyo - Gulu (Funded by GOU) 70 Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014 29 Gulu – Acholi Bur (Funded by GOU) 86 Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in December 2014 Sironko-Namusi-Muyembe (Funded by GOU) 32 Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in January 2015 Iganga-Tirinyi (Funded by GOU) 102 Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in January 2015 Nansana-Busunju (Funded by GOU) 47 Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in January 2015 Iganga-Kaliro (Funded by GOU) 32 Contractor mobilising. Physical works will commence in January 2015 Total 2,326 Ishaka-Kagamba up-grade earth-works through a rocky hill-side to align the road to stipulated standards. TheTheRoads Roads Magazine Magazine 29 Mpigi-Kanoni up grade to tarmack; earthworks at Bboza. Mbarara By-pass; curing the sub-base. 30 The Roads Magazine Issue 32 OCTOBER 2014 Upcoming projects A total of over 1,200km of roads are due to commence. The following roads will commence in 2014/15: Road Name Km Status Bidsevaluation completed. Report submitted to AfDB for “No Objection” to award contract. 1 Kigumba-Masindi-Hoima-BulimaKabwoya(Funded by AfDB/GOU) 135 2 Masaka-Bukakata (Funded by BADEA/OPEC) 41 3 Design and Build of Mubende-Kakumiro-Kibaale107 Kagadi(Funded by GOU) 4 Kyenjojo-Kabwoya(Funded by WB/GOU) 105 Bids evaluation completed. Report submitted to WB for “No Objection” to award contract. 5 Mukono-Kayunga-Njeru(Funded by GOU) 94 Procurement ongoing 6 Rukungiri-Kihihi-Ishasha-Kambuga/Kihihi-Kanungu-Kambuga(Funded by AfDB/GOU) 112 7 Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi/Kamonkoli (Funded by BADEA/ OPEC/GOU) 111 8 Kyenjojo-Fort Portal(Funded by GOU) 50 Bid evaluation ongoing 9 Ishaka-Rugazi-Katunguru(Funded by GOU) 55 Bid evaluation ongoing 10 Mbale-Nkokonjeru(Funded by GOU) 20 Bid evaluation ongoing. 11 Kapchorwa-Suam (Funded by AfDB/GOU) 73 12 Hoima-Wanseko 111 13 Kayunga - Galiraya 88 At project preparation 14 Zirobwe-Wobulenzi 25 At project preparation 15 16 Muyembe - Nakapiripirit Funded by Islamic Development Bank Mbale-Bubulo-Lwakhakha (Funded by AfDB/GOU) Total 94 41 Bidevaluation completed. Bid evaluation ongoing. Procurement ongoing Procurement ongoing At project preparation. At project preparation. At project preparation At project preparation 1,262 UNRA CUSTOMER CARE CENTRE In our effort to help serve our customers better and obtain feedback from all our stakeholders, we have installed a Customer care hotline and email to be able to listen to you better. Talk to us! 031-2233111/113 or 041-4318111/113, Email roadinfo@unra.go.ug Website http://www.unra.go.ug The Roads Magazine 31 Committed to Quality Construction Roads, Highways | Civil Works | Bridges | Water Projects Hydroelectric plants | Property Development | Turnkey Projects SBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS AG (UGANDA) Plot 88 Luthuli Avenue, Bugolobi, P.O.Box 11713 Kampala, Uganda, Tel: +256 312 500500, www.sbi.co.ug
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