Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has said oil roads are now a priority and will be completed before commercial production of oil in three years.
While releasing a half-year performance report for the 2021/2022 financial year in Kyambogo, Kampala, UNRA Executive Director Allen Kagina, told Daily Monitor that while the government, through the Ministry of Finance, is finalizing negotiations with development partners, UNRA is progressing with the procurement of respective contractors to implement a number of projects, including oil roads.
The report highlights road projects under procurement such as Lusalira- Nkonge- Lumegere- Ssembabule upgrades, Masindi- Biiso, Hohwa- Nyairongo- Kyarusheesha- Butoole, and Kabaale- Kiziranfumbi roads as priorities.
Critical projects such as the 43km Kabwoya-Buhuka road are also highlighted while designing and building for the upgrading of Karugutu-Ntoroko road (56.5km) link to Rwebisengo (8.2km) and 3.3km of town roads in Ntoroko are also highlighted.
This commitment comes after the government and venture partners recently announced the signing of the final investment decision.
The announcement has in result led to a number of activities, among which include infrastructure development.
The projects will be an important enabler that is expected to support the achievement of the first oil by 2025.
During the release of the report, Eng Isaac Wani, the UNRA director of network planning and engineering, said oil roads under implementation include one that goes through Pader from Masindi, which he said was about 80 percent complete.
He also noted that a road that stretches from Hoima through Butiaba to Wanseko, a critical road that facilitates oil exploration in the Albertine Graben, has been completed and was commissioned last month.
Others include Buhimba- Kakumiro currently at 70 and Masindi-Bukedea Road, which is at 60 percent complete. Eng Wani further noted that a number of other projects were ongoing to support the realization of the first oil.