Summary:

• Prime Minister Nabbanja urges utility providers to speed up service line relocation for Kampala road projects, emphasizing timely completion.

KAMPALA, (Examiner) – Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has issued a stern directive to utility service providers, urging them to expedite the relocation of service lines to ensure the timely completion of crucial road construction projects in Kampala.

During her recent tour on Thursday, Nabbanja personally inspected the Kyebando Ring Road in Kawempe Division, as well as 7th Street and 8th Street. These roads are part of the ongoing Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project (KCRRP).

Identifying critical issues such as right-of-way acquisition and delayed service line relocations as major bottlenecks, Nabbanja called upon key utility providers including Umeme, National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U), National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), and the Police, to enhance their coordination and accelerate the shifting of service lines to prevent further delays.

Expressing frustration with the current pace of progress, Nabbanja demanded immediate action from contractors and consultants. She declared, “Let the contractor start work; we are tired of potholes,” and pledged to closely monitor the situation, promising, “I’m going to start passing here every day. If there are any problems, I want to know about them immediately.”

Nabbanja also announced plans to engage the Ambassador of China to further ensure efficient project completion. She criticized what she perceived as negligence on the part of consultants, stating, “We feel there is negligence on the side of the consultant. We are tired. We don’t want to waste even one minute. People are suffering.”

Emphasizing the importance of timely and high-quality execution, Nabbanja warned against any form of sabotage to government efforts. “When we are given work, let us deliver it. Don’t sabotage government. We want to serve our people. We need quality work and quality roads,” she emphasized.

Following her inspections, Nabbanja convened a meeting with contractors, consultant utility service providers, and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to address the challenges hindering road construction. Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua, who accompanied the Prime Minister during the road tours, echoed her concerns and proposed subcontracting as a solution to accelerate the work.

The meeting also included the Minister of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, and the State Minister for Kampala, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, who acknowledged that the current pace of execution is a significant challenge. The KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, along with her Deputy Eng David Luyimbazi, were also part of the road tours.