The Minister of State for Works, Hon. Siraji Ali (L) during his visit at Roofings Rolling Mill Plant in Namanve

By Nasser Kayanja

The Minister of State for Works, Hon. Siraji Ali, has called for increased use of railway and water transport to ease pressure on Uganda’s roads and support the movement of construction materials.

Siraji made the remarks during a tour of Roofings Rolling Mill Plant in Namanve, where he assessed the company’s contribution to import substitution through local manufacturing of construction materials.

During the visit, it was highlighted that Roofings is manufacturing several products locally, including steel culverts, road guardrails, modern gabions and fencing materials, which are essential for infrastructure development.

Roofings Group Chairman, Mr Sikander Lalani, called for increased investment in transport vessels on Lake Victoria to facilitate the movement of goods across the region. He said the company currently uses MV Pemba and MV Kahwa to transport materials to Mwanza, Tanzania, but faces non-tariff barriers that affect trade.

In response, Siraji said the Government was committed to promoting the use of railways and Uganda’s lakes to transport goods, noting that shifting more cargo from roads to water and rail would reduce road congestion and infrastructure maintenance costs.

“Shifting most of the transport to rail and water will help us reduce the burden on our roads. We don’t want to only discuss these issues, but also take them forward,” Siraji said.

Roofings, one of Uganda’s major taxpayers, has supplied materials used in several landmark infrastructure projects, including National Water Projects, Entebbe, Karuma and Bujagali hydropower projects, Hoima Stadium, Kiira Motors and Entebbe International Airport.

The minister was accompanied by a technical team from the Ministry of Works and Transport led by Commissioner for Construction Industry Development and Regulation, Eng. Tony Mugyenyi, and Acting Commissioner for National Roads, Eng. Godfrey Bihemaiso.