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H.E President Yoweri Museveni addressing participants at Kyankwanzi.Credit provided by the Busoga website.
The Kyankwazi Cabinet Retreat, which commenced on 7th July 2024, has addressed the strategic issues to fast track service delivery in the country. While addressing the participants including Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, members of the NRM governing body and selected Executive Directors, H.E the President said that the country is focusing on the core issues, which he called the “bone marrow”, to unlock the economy and catapulate it to the desired levels of gowth. He urged participants to stop focusing on cosmetic issues.
KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka contributing at the ongoing retreat at Kyankwanzi.Courtesy Photo.
The strategic issues addressed include the rehabilitation of the capital city roads under the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project, KCRRP. This project commenced in 2021 during covid-19 and is yet to be completed.
The completion of this project is highly anticipated because it will refurbish at least forty roads, including industrial area roads, the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th street, the notorious Salama Road in Makindye division and Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road, which connects old Kampala to Bwaise, in Kawempe division. It will address traffic bottlenecks and reduce the hours motorists spend in commuting
The KCCA Executive Director, Dorothy Kisaka, while responding, clarified that the government has provided funding under the project to deliver approximately 100 km in the city. The initial anticipated 69km has been superseded because of the savings realized through competitive bidding.
(L-R):KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka,Finance Minister Matia Kasaija,State Minister for Local Government Victoria Rusoke and the deputy Attorney General Kafuzi are seen during the ongoing retreat at Kyankwanzi.Courtesy Photo.
In addition the project will refurbish 22 traffic junctions, 123km of non-motarised transport facilities, parking spaces commercial vehicles, Bus depots, public toilets, markets along project roads for women vendors, installation of energy efficient streetlights, and other city beautifications.
However, the project, which commenced in 2021 during the Covid19, has suffered several setbacks, which affected the procurement processes of contractors. But Kisaka also laid blame on the slow speed of mobilization by contractors, the delayed release of the design reviews by the consultants, and the complexities of relocating utilities. This project has also had multiple whistles blowing by the unsuccessful bidders, which leads to investigations and, therefore, further delays.
KCCA says they have addressed the bottlenecks and have re-egineered the work methodology to fast-track outputs. The inter-agency approach, revamping of the contract management teams, and increased frequency in inspecting the works have positively affected the speed of delivery by all the contractors.
As the government declares war on corruption, the Cabinet Retreat is leaving no stone unturned in unblocking bottlenecks to service delivery. The cabinet retreat will continue until Sunday, 14th July 2024.