By Joseph Kiggundu
KYOTERA. Government has given the contractor handling the Masaka–Kyotera–Mutukula Road project 90 days to commence tarmacking the road, warning that failure to do so will result in termination of the contract.
The Minister of Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, Byamukama issued the directive on Saturday during an inspection of the ongoing construction works on the road.
The Minister expressed concern that physical progress on the project stood at only 23%, a pace he described as unsatisfactory given the timelines and the strategic importance of the road.
“Today, I inspected the ongoing construction works on the Masaka–Kyotera–Mutukula Road, a strategic regional corridor that connects Uganda to the United Republic of Tanzania and serves as a vital route for trade, tourism and cross-border movement,” Byamukama said.
“I am concerned that with only two years remaining on the contract, just about 30% of the works have been completed. This pace is not satisfactory for a project of such national and regional importance,” he added.
Government has committed and approved shs 629 billion for the construction of the project, running from 2024 to 2028.
Byamukama also directed the contractor to improve dust suppression along the corridor to curb accidents linked to poor visibility and the absence of speed humps.
“I directed the contractor to intensify dust suppression by regularly watering the entire corridor, to prevent accidents which have become a common occurrence due to the dust and lack of speed humps,” he said.
The Minister issued a stern warning to the contractor over the delayed works, questioning whether such slow progress would be tolerated in the contractor’s home country, China.
“Can you do such a thing in China? Can you do what you’re doing here in China?” Byamukama asked.
He gave the contractor a strict ultimatum on the tarmacking timeline.
“The contractor has 90 days to commence tarmacking of the road! If you don’t tarmac this road in 90 days, I will terminate your contract,” Byamukama warned.
Kyotera county MP and state minister for foreign affairs, Haruna Kasolo said that the contractor must now match commitment with tangible progress on the ground.