Government Procures Road Equipment for 16 Districts

Akello Sharon
2 Min Read

The Ugandan government, through Works State Minister Fred Byamukama, has announced plans to distribute road equipment to 16 districts across the country. The initiative aims to support road rehabilitation efforts in areas heavily affected by the El-Nino phenomenon, which caused significant damage due to above-average rainfall last year.

According to Byamukama, beneficiary districts include Kikuube, Terego, and Rubanda, among others. The road machines, procured by the government, are scheduled to be handed over to the respective districts next month. However, the criteria used for the selection of beneficiary local governments were not disclosed.




While the news is welcomed by the recipient districts, leaders from areas that missed out, such as Hoima city, express dissatisfaction with the decision. Despite numerous requests to the central government, Hoima city leaders lament their exclusion from the allocation. Byamukama suggests that districts without allocated equipment can borrow from those set to receive it to mitigate the financial burden of hiring privately-owned machinery.




The procurement of road equipment comes at a crucial time when districts are grappling with the rehabilitation of deteriorating roads. For instance, Kikuube District has already initiated road rehabilitation efforts, highlighting the urgent need for such machinery.




During a parliamentary session, Works Minister Gen Katumba Wamala assured lawmakers that the government has secured the necessary equipment for road maintenance nationwide. However, he noted that the supplier is awaiting the balance of six billion shillings required to complete the procurement process.

The announcement follows concerns raised by legislators regarding the government’s delay in fulfilling commitments to provide road maintenance equipment to districts. Parliament has given the minister two weeks to provide a comprehensive statement on the status of road works across the country.

Story Source: New Vision




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