The Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) has implored local leaders and communities in Pallisa and Kumi to take responsibility in protecting the newly completed town roads, including proper waste disposal, drainage protection, and other harmful substances that could damage the road surface.
The call came as the Ministry officially received the completed selected town roads in Pallisa and Kumi, a combined stretch of nearly 20 kilometres, now fully handed over to the Government of Uganda following completion.
Implemented by Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.) and financed by the Government of Uganda under the supervision of the MoWT In-House Construction and Supervision Team at a cost of Ugx. 146 billion, the project covers 7.5 km in Pallisa and 12.2 km in Kumi, providing critical links to the Soroti–Mbale, Pallisa–Kumi, and Pallisa–Kamonkoli national roads.
Residents have already begun to feel the difference, with improved access to markets, health centres, and schools, while business owners report higher customer turnout and reduced transport costs.
This milestone comes at a crucial time for Uganda’s rapidly expanding towns. The World Bank’s 2018 Report on Urban Infrastructure noted that, “Uganda is urbanising at an unprecedented pace… with the number of urban residents expected to quadruple from 6 million to over 20 million by 2040.” The project, therefore, represents a major milestone in Uganda’s efforts to improve urban infrastructure, enhance connectivity, and foster socio-economic transformation across growing towns.
Officials from the Ministry hailed the project as a demonstration of the Government of Uganda’s commitment to improving infrastructure and unlocking development potential across the country.
“This achievement shows the Government’s resolve to expand urban connectivity and improve living standards for Ugandans,” Eng. Godfrey Bihemaiso, the Assistant Commissioner of Road Construction and Rehabilitation, said during the handover ceremony.
The Ministry urged both leaders and residents to maintain the new roads by promoting proper waste disposal, preventing oil and chemical spillages, and avoiding activities that could damage the new road surfaces or drainage systems.
“These roads are public assets that belong to all of us. Let’s keep them clean, avoid dumping in drains, and protect the surface from damage, so that this investment serves our communities for generations,” Eng. Bihemaiso further appealed.
Ends.
