UNRA to add 400km paved stock to the national road network in FY2021/22

Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) is set to add 400km of paved stock to the national road network in financial year 2021/2022.

According to a statement by executive director Allen Kagina, the process will involve upgrading of Masindi Park Junction and Tangi Junction-Para-Bulisa Roads (159km), Hoima-Butiaba-Wanseko (111km), Upgrading of Buhimba – Nalweyo – Bulamagi & Bulamagi – Igayaza – Kakumiro (93km), Kampala Northern Bypass (17.5km) – Phase II, Rehabilitation of Sironko – Muyembe / Kapchorwa (29km) Phase II and Rehabilitation of Masaka town roads (7.3km).

At the same time, there are 37 Bridges under Construction, 6 of which  are expected to be substantially completed

The six are; Amou Bridge on Laropi-Palorinya-Obongi Road, in (Moyo DLG), Gazi (Rhino Camp) and Aca (Rhino Camp) Bridges, Kibimba and Sironko bridges, Emergency Repair of Kazinga Channel Bridge on Kasese-Katunguru-Ishasha Road, and Multi Cell Box Culvert at Ajeleik.

Additionally, the authority will undertake low cost seal on a number roads including; Access road to Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial development Centre (3.0Km), Nagongera-Busolwe-Busaba Road (6.0Km), Kalule – Bamunanika low volume Road (11Km) and Bukwiri – Kyankwanzi Road

UNRA, according to the executive director, will also commence various road projects during FY 2021/22. These include:

The Critical Oil Roads Package 4: Lusalira-Nkonge-Lumegere and Lumegere-Ssembabule (97Km), Critical oil Roads package 6A: Design and build for the Upgrading of Kabwoya-Buhuka Road (43Km), Critical oil Roads package 6B: Design and build for the Upgrading of «Contract_Name»Road (56.5km), Link to Rwebisengo (8.2km) and 3.3km of Town Roads in Ntoroko, Upgrading of Moroto- Lokitanyala Road (42km), Upgrading Kitgum – Kidepo Road (115km), and Designining, Building of Kisoro- Rubuguri – Muko/ Nteko road upgrading Project (72km), Construction of Muko – Katuna Road (66.6Km), Upgrading of Kabale – Lake Bunyonyi Road (15.1km) and Kisoro-Mgahinga Road (18.1km), Upgrading of Tororo-Busia Road (26Km) and Mayuge and Busia Town Roads (18Km), Upgrading of Moyo – Yumbe – Koboko road (105Km), Upgrading of Kituuma – Kapeka – Butalangu Road (37km) and access to Ssingo Barracks (5km) and Civil Works for Rehabilitation of Olwiyo – Packwach

Physical Progress

UNRA notes that during the 20/21 financial year, President Museveni undertook the ground-breaking for projects whose contracts were signed and ready for implementation and the commissioning projects that had been completed and handed over to the employer, UNRA.

The commissioned projects include; Kiyindi – Buvuma ferry, Musiita – Lumino/ Busia – majanji road project, Soroti-Akisim – Moroto, Bumbobi – Lwhakhakha, Sigulu Ferry, Kashenyi – Mitooma (Kitabi Seminary acces road 0.8Km), Bweranyangi Road, Ntungamo – Mirama Hills, Rehabilitation of Kyenjojo – Fortportal, Rehabilitation of Ishaka – Katunguru, Mubende Kakumro, Sembabule- Villamaria and Mukono – Katosi.

At the same time, the President undertook the ground-breaking of projects that include; Masaka town roads, Rwenkunya – Lira -Apac – Puranga, Saaza road – Iganga, Iganga – Bulopa – Kamuli road, Muyembe – Nakapiripirit, Hoima town roads, Busega – Mpigi Expressway, Kiira – Kasangati – Matugga, Najjanankumbi – Busabala and Mityana- Mubende.

Challenges encountered

From the Covid-19 pandemic to the unfavourable weather conditions slowing down works, UNRA outlines a number of challenges they encountered in the previous year.

“The Covid-19 pandemic greatly affected UNRA’s ability to achieve the set targets. A number of UNRA’s activities such as road construction were affected by the lockdown and partial lockdown. Activities like land acquisition were halted while projects continued to be implemented under very strict Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs). The result of this has been delay in progress with some contractors giving notice to claim for extension of time or cost,” Allen Kagina says in a stamen.

Additionally, the occasioned by heavy and long rainy season, according to the authority, resulted in; slow progress of the construction projects, Several cut-offs which required emergency interventions to reinstate the road sections and Rapid deterioration of the condition of the roads, reducing the service level and increasing the urgent need for periodic maintenance and rehabilitation of some road sections.

“The financing for the road development programme remains constrained and not in harmony with the five-year plan. UNRA closed the year with a debt of UGX 215Bn on the GoU financed projects. The arrears and limited financing distorts efforts to successfully achieve NDPIII objectives,” UNRA says about limited finances.

The Authority also says that a rigid Public Finance Management Act which does not allow flexibility in utilisation of funds to drive the development programme and the road maintenance budget remains lower than the required, which makes providing the desired level of service and response to emergencies which result in network cut-offs a challenge and reduced ferry services;

“UNRA’s operational budget has remained inadequate and the same over the years, despite the increase in the development and maintenance programme, the increase in operation and administrative costs and the increase in staff numbers. This has constrained the ability of the organisation to effectively supervise its programmes,” UNRA says.

Building Local Construction Capacity

By the end of the Financial Year, UNRA is happy to report that 38.8% of signed contracts worth UGX 1,358,649,565,742 were awarded to local providers through applications of the local content reservation schemes, accreditations for construction materials and margin of preference in favour of the local and resident providers.

In taking deliberate Actions taken to build Local content/ Capacity, UNRA says a number of affirmative actions were taken to increase the level of participation of local firms in the roads sub-sector in compliance with the PPDA Regulations and Guidelines for promotion of local content.

For instance, several procurements have been reserved for local providers. They include; Mechanized maintenance of unpaved and paved roads, Periodic maintenance of paved and unpaved national roads, Low Volume Sealed Roads (LVSR), Swamp improvements, Selected bridge works (short span bridges and multiple-cell box culverts) and Labour based maintenance of national roads

UNRA also notes that they obtained Accreditation from PPDA for reservation of selected feasibility study and detailed engineering consultancy services for road upgrading projects to local consultancy firms. This is in addition to improved dissemination of the performance of implementation of local content by the Authority and also the available opportunities. This includes use of Press Briefings, adverts in newspapers, UNRA Website and par