Lands minister, Judith Nabakooba, has commissioned government projects constructed in Kamwenge District under the multi-million US dollars World bank funded – Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme.
The Ug.Shs. 18.5 bn projects include a playground, two resource centres at Nkoma-Katalyeba Town Council and Nkoma Sub-County headquarters, 16.93km and 21.48km murram roads, and two markets.
Nabakooba said the projects were extended to Kamwenge because it is a refugee hosting community, and this fulfills their mandate of fostering social cohesion between communities and refugees.
“The program is here in Kamwenge because you host many refugees. This will improve physical planning, secure land tenure, and allow you to enjoy using some static infrastructure investments,” she said.
With the infrastructural developments, there will be enhancement in commercial agriculture since roads connect to locals from gardens to newly constructed markets.
The USMID program is a government project with funding from the World Bank to enhance the institutional capacity of local governments.
Mr Gilbert Kiracho, M & E Specialist of USMID programme, represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Dorcas Okalany, at the commissioning ceremony.
In her speech read by Mr Kiracho, Okalany said this programme came to bridge the gap between required service delivery and the rapid urban growth.
She noted by 2040, the total urban population in Uganda will be more than 20 million representing 30 percent of the population.
“This means that the demand for urban services will escalate and if the demand is not dealt with, the efficiency of Uganda’s system will be constrained.”
She said the development of refugee hosting communities is intended to strengthen interaction and peaceful co-existence amongst host communities and refugees.
Frank Tumwebaze, the Kibale County Member of Parliament and Minister of Agriculture, encouraged the locals to utilise the infrastructure and improve their living standards. He lauded the technical team at the district for utilising the funds properly in a very short time to ensure they transform Kamwenge.
“Other areas are given funds and are not able to utilise them in time. We count ourselves lucky for these socio-economic projects,” Tumwebaze said.
He asked the government to consider them if more funds are availed under the same program to extend similar development projects to other areas within Kamwenge District.
Sylivia Bahireira Tumwekwase, the Woman MP Kamwenge, expressed her gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni for the projects he was able to extend to the people in her district.
“We are very sure that our area is a very vibrant community and we are going to use these projects effectively for the general development of our district.”
Meron Kyalisiima, the District Sports Officer, appreciated the government for the playground and assured talent development of the young generation.
“As the sports fraternity, we are very happy for this stadium. We believe we shall be hosting many matches and be able to promote talent,” Kyalisiima said.
About the projects
Rwamwanja playground
Construction of the playground in Nkoma-Katalyeba Town Council construction works which cost Shs 3.8bn were completed in 12 months. The contractor, M/S. Oceanntech General Holdings Limited signed the contract on October 03, 2022 and started off the project on October 17, 2022.
Resource centres
Two resource centres were built at Nkoma-Katalyeba Town Council and Nkoma Sub-County headquarters. The contract for the resource centre at the Town Council was given to M/S. S/M Kirimi Enterprise Limited at Shs1bn.
It included construction of VIP latrine, fencing the structure, well paved ground parking area, walk ways and electrical and firefighting among others. The Nkoma Sub-County resource centre cost Shs974 million with similar designs of scope of works for the town council resource centre.
Roads.
Two murram roads were upgraded to grade C. These include Mabale-Kabuga-Rukunyu Hospital road (16.93 km) in Nkoma Sub-county which cost Shs1bn. Another road is Businge-Kantembwe-Buregyeya-Nkoma road that stretches up to 21.48km and it costs Shs1.8bn.
Markets
Two markets were constructed in Nkoma-Katalyeba Town Council and Nkoma Sub-County. The market in the town council has a space for a tax park, administrative block, restaurant, shops, waiting shed for passengers, among others.
