President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed the Ministry of Finance to urgently release the quarterly contribution to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) of Shs. 6 billion for pothole filling, repairs, and maintenance of roads.
Museveni made the directives during his quarterly address to the country, which focused on supporting the tourism sector and was delivered at State House Entebbe on Wednesday, 19th April 2023.
“I have been told only 30% of this money has been released this financial year, causing roads outside the Africa Development Bank (AFBD) project to fall into bad disrepair with attendant problems of traffic jams,” he said.
He stated that the 41-AFDB city roads project will continue for the next four years to improve the city’s transportation.
“All cities, starting with Kampala, should have ‘lost and found’ locations and accessible places of convenience for tourists, and this should be replicated in the districts of Kabarole, Gulu, Mbarara, Soroti, Arua, Masindi, Mubende, Kabale, and other locations usually frequented by tourists,” he added.
Museveni also expressed the need to support the private sector’s drive to increase Uganda’s export earnings by issuing directives that will see Uganda’s image presented in a more welcoming way to the world.
“Setting up Uganda Trade Hubs at Airports and Aerodromes across the country, tarmacking them, training staff in the hospitality industry, and harmonizing tourism communications through government institutions,” he directed.
The president also tasked KCCA with giving monthly updates on the clean-up, repair, and maintenance of roads in the city.
He advised the authority to follow the Parish Model approach and have at least one garbage truck for each of the 99 parishes, 10 garbage skips, and 4 skip loaders per division.