Ministry of Lands officials under the USMID initiative pays curtesy visit to Kabale municipality

A team from the Ministry of Lands under the USMID initiative visited Kabale municipality to oversee the finalization of projects ahead of the program’s closure on December 31, 2023.

Ms. Sheilah Naturinda, the USMID communications specialist, disclosed this information today thursday 23rd November.

According to Naturinda, the USMID program is set to conclude at the end of the year. Failure to complete ongoing projects poses various challenges post-closure, including the possibility of reallocating funds to contractors with credible bank guarantees for project completion. If such measures are not taken, there is a risk of financial loss for the municipality and potential delays in project completion.

Naturinda revealed that the government has sought an extension from the World Bank due to several pending projects. These include the tarmacking of the 0.76 kilometers Bwankosa road, connecting Nyerere Avenue and Kabale shopping center (Ki-college), the 0.34 kilometers Bushekwire road linking Kabale shopping center to Kabale main road in Central division, and a 2.49 kilometers road connecting the Kabale Diocesan Headquarters to Katuna-Kabale-Mbarara Highway. The extension also involves the expansion of street lights within Kabale municipality.

She explained that the government is awaiting feedback from the World Bank regarding the extension request.

Naturinda further stated that the team’s visit to Kabale was prompted by concerns over the slow progress of Multiplex Company Limited, the contracted construction company. However, there has been an improvement, with the contractor currently at 53% completion of the road. The goal is to ensure that the USMID program concludes with the contractor achieving at least 70% completion.

In 2021, Multiplex Construction Company Limited secured a contract worth Shillings 21.7 billion to tarmac the aforementioned roads. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had pledged the construction of Rushoroza road during his 2010 presidential campaign. Bwankosa and Bushekwire roads, both in a deteriorating state, have been a longstanding concern, with deep potholes collecting stagnant water during rainy seasons.