By: Ismael Kasooha

KAMWENGE

The Government of Uganda has launched the upgrade of 125 kilometres of roads in the Districts of Kamwenge, Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo under the Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Services (ITIS) program.

The Prime Minister, Nabbanja Robinah Represented the Head of State H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the occasion of ground-breaking of Kyenjojo (Kihura) – Bwizi – Rwamwanja – Kahunge (68Km), Mpara – Bwizi Road (37 Km) totalling to 105km and construction of 20km town roads, in the three Districts of Kamwenge, Kyenjojo and Kyegegwa.

The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah with other Ministers and Local Leaders at the launch of construction of the roads in the 3 Districts of Kamwenge, Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo

The President in a statement said that this road was included in the NRM manifestos of 2016 and 2021 and will be implemented under the Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Services (ITIS) program.

The road serves three refugee camps, that is Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, Kyaka 1 and Kyaka II Refugee Settlements via the Bwizi – Mpara Road section.

“The project will, therefore, be critical in addressing the needs of the Refugees and the Host Communities and will facilitate delivery of aid and essential goods and improving access to services like healthcare and education and promote economic opportunities for both Refugees and Host Communities, while ensuring freedom of movement and facilitating social integration,” noted Museveni.

The President said that as a tourism road, it will also enhance the tourism potential in the Rwenzori region.

“10 out of the 12 national parks are in the western region. The two proposed routes are adjacent to Kibaale National Park and contribute to the development of tourism in the region accounting for greater percentage of the total number of tourists in Uganda,” the statement read in part.

Museveni said that the tourists will no longer need to move all the way to Fort Portal to be able to access the Kibaale National Park, which will boost the livelihoods of the communities in the three Districts of Kamwenge, Kyenjojo and Kyegegwa.

The project will also replace the old Mpanga Bridge that was constructed in 1964, when the first Refugees visited the area.

“The Upgrading of Kyenjojo (Kihura) – Bwizi – Rwamwanja – Kahunge (68Km), Mpara – Bwizi Road (37 Km) is fully funded by Islamic Development Bank. I, therefore, want to thank our development partner, Islamic Development Bank, for the continued support,” he said.

Arab Contractors being introduced to the public by the Minister of State Works, Hon. Musa Ecweru (right) at the launch of the upgrade of roads in Kamwenge District

The President explained that the project will boost the socio-economic development of Uganda by providing better access to social infrastructure, facilitating access to markets for farmers and traders, reinforcing regional integration and tourism.

“More specifically, the project will increase the stock of transport infrastructure, reducing transportation costs and reducing travel time,” he said.

Some of the recently completed road projects in the Rwenzori sub-region and surrounding areas include: the upgrade of Kyenjojo – Kabwoya road (100km), upgrade of Kamwenge – Fort Portal (66km), upgrade of Mubende – Kakumiro – Kagadi Road, rehabilitation of Kyenjojo – Fort Portal (50km), Fort Portal- Hima (55Km), Hima – Katunguru (58km) and Ishaka – Katunguru (58km), among others.

There are ongoing projects, such as rehabilitation of Mityana-Mubende Road (86Km) and Mityana Town Roads (14Km), etc.

“I congratulate the Contractor – Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co) for having been selected following their good track record. They are known for timely execution of previous road projects. We urge you to commit adequate resources, dedicated teams and support the local content,” he said.

The Head of State urged the people of the area to embrace this project wholeheartedly and to seize the opportunities presented by this project, whether through employment, material supply, or workforce support.

“Such engagement will improve household incomes and contribute to the government’s socio-economic transformation agenda. I appeal to Local Leaders and the community to support the project’s successful implementation,” he noted.

He thanked Local Leaders and the people of the area, in general, for their support which has led to the successful commencement of the project. 

Museveni asked the contractors to commence all project activities, without delay.

Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and area Member of Parliament hailed President Museveni for fulfilling his promise to the people of Kamwenge which was made in 2012.

“This has been a thorn in our throat as NRM because the road had taken quite long before being upgraded and we are happy that finally the contractor is on site to begin works,” said Tumwebaze.

The Minister of State for Works, Musa Ecweru used the same occasion to assure the people using the Mubende-Mityana Road that the government had already released money for construction work to begin.

A section of the road is in a poor state with numerous pot holes that has made using the road difficult and time consuming.

Joseph Karungi, the Kamwenge LC V Chairperson thanked the government for the road project saying that the roads will greatly improve interconnectivity and enhance economic development in the area.

End