Summary:
- In 2018, the Ugandan government committed to upgrading the Kabale-Lake Bunyonyi and Kisoro Mgahinga tourism roads, with funding from the African Development Bank (ADB).
- Procurement notices were published in December 2020, and UNRA invited bids in July 2021.
- M/s Samcrete Egypt Engineers and Contractors were awarded the contract, which was signed on September 19, 2023 and civil works were expected to begin by March 2024 but have been delayed.
KABALE: Tourism stakeholders in Kigezi have launched an online petition to the Government of Uganda, urging the Uganda National Road Authority (UNRA) to expedite the upgrade of the Kabale-Lake Bunyonyi and Kisoro Mgahinga tourism roads.
The petition, initiated on Sunday through the Change.org platform, aims to collect signatures. As of today (Tuesday), over 100 signatures have already been gathered.
Stakeholders are requesting the Government of Uganda to provide timely and accurate updates on the progress of the road projects to help communities, businesses, and other stakeholders plan effectively and fast-track the project to rejuvenate struggling businesses and prevent accidents, crime due to unemployment, and pollution from dust.
They also want government to convene stakeholder meetings to reassure them about the quality of work, project opportunities, and a definite start date for civil works, noting that 90% of land acquisition and beneficiary payments were completed by March 30, 2024.
They also demand government to ensure measures are in place to protect locals and guests from visual, air, and water pollution during construction, and outline alternative routes to maintain accessibility for businesses and households.
They call on the government to address these concerns urgently and provide necessary updates to ensure transparency and accountability in these critical infrastructure projects.
In 2018, the Ugandan government committed to upgrading the Kabale-Lake Bunyonyi and Kisoro Mgahinga tourism roads, with funding from the African Development Bank (ADB). Procurement notices were published in December 2020, and UNRA invited bids in July 2021. M/s Samcrete Egypt Engineers and Contractors were awarded the contract, which was signed on September 19, 2023 and civil works were expected to begin by March 2024 but have been delayed.
Additionally, a contract signed on June 10, 2022, between ADB and UNRA, included the provision of two merchant vessels (ferries) at Kako landing site on Lake Bunyonyi, two rescue boats, a ferry operations patrol boat, a cesspool emptying truck (15,000 liters), and five double cabin pickups to improve transportation and emergency response on Lake Bunyonyi.
Stakeholders noted that despite these signed contracts and land compensation by UNRA, there have been no updates on the progress. The roads remain in a dilapidated state, causing tourism businesses and locals to suffer from dusty conditions in the hot season, which are expected to become more hazardous with the upcoming rains.
Below is the link of the Petition.
