The poor condition of the roads in Kampala prompted some Ugandans to vent their rage and frustration on Twitter.
Since Monday, several social media users have posted pictures of potholes all over the city using the hashtag #KampalaPotholeExhibition, which has received over 13k tweets. It was started by the Popular Cartoonist Jimmy Spire Ssentongo.
Many criticize the government for doing nothing about the deteriorating state of the city’s roads.
“Let’s be clear: The #KampalaPotholeExhibition is not a malicious campaign by unpatriotic citizens to tarnish their country’s image. It is a patriotic act of citizen agency to draw attention to the sorry state of their Capital so that those charged with the responsibility to fix it can do so,” a one Ivan Rugambwa.
Some, however, are against the campaign because they believe it harms the nation’s reputation.
Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, commended citizens for the #KampalaPotholeExhibition campaign but says the situation is not about to end because suppliers are on sit-down strike over arrears.
Lukwago revealed that Total Energies, which is owed Shs2.6 billion has not been supplying fuel for the last four months. He said the only supplier on board is the supplier of murram but the rain keeps washing it away.
While chairing parliament’s plenary sitting this afternoon, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa said that he has received complaints from members of the public about the dire state of Ugandan roads and how they are now affecting the lives of the citizens.
“We have potholes of every design, every size, the beautiful ones, the ugly ones, the deep ones, shallow ones, the wide and narrow ones. They are all in Kampala,” Tayebwa said.
“Hon. Linos came to me complaining that some men are no longer functioning properly because their backs are broken because of the potholes. Hon. Cecilia told me that the women are producing prematurely (miscarrying) because of the potholes,” he added.
Tayebwa directed the Minister for Kampala Capital City Authority and Metropolitan Affairs, Hon Hajjat Minsa Kabanda to present a statement on how much money KCCA has received for road construction and maintenance for the last three years, which roads were constructed and maintained using the funds and the current status of each road.
Also, this afternoon, KCCA KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka addressed the media and said that they are constrained by the limited budget provisions, hence the reason they are finding it hard to turn around the situation.
According to the KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, Kampala City has a total road network of 2,100KM, of which only 30% are paved roads while the rest (70%) are unpaved or earth roads.
“It is worth noting that most of our paved roads have served far beyond their full lifespan of twenty years,” said Kisaka.
She further explained that most roads are due for overhaul or reconstruction.
“By December 2022, KCCA had recorded an area of 8,500 Square meters of potholes, spread across the five divisions,” KCCA said.
Kisaka said that in December 2022, the work on the potholes started with the funding that was available and they covered potholes on several roads.
In Makindye Division, KCCA says they covered; These include, Zzimwe Road, Katwe Road, Mobutu Road, Ggaba Road, Nsambya estate, and Bukasa Ring.
In Kampala Central Division, the authorities say that they covered; Kampala Road, Bombo Road, Mackinon Road, Kyagwe Road, Yusuf Lule Road, and George Street.
In Nakawa Division, they state to have worked on; Katalima Road, Naguru Avenue, Kisaasi-Kyanja Road, and Ntinda-Kisaasi Road.
In Lubaga Division, they worked on Masaka Road, Wakaliga Road, Kalema Road, Nsibambi Road, Lubaga Road, are Kaweesi Road.
In Kawempe Division, they renovated; Bombo Road, Binaisa Road, Tufnel Drive, Mawanda Road, Nkinzi Road, Kisota Road, and Gayaza Road.
Other road repair works done include sectional repairs (heavy grading) on Kiteezi Road, Bombo Road (near Kubiri Roundabout), Sadler Way (Naguru Drive), Naguru Avenue, Katwe Road, Salaama Road and Mukwano Road.