The Special Forces Command's (SFC) Construction Regiment has embarked on an ambitious mission to fill a staggering 19,324 square meters of potholes in Kampala's central division by mid-December 2023. The estimated cost of this comprehensive road restoration effort is approximately Shs 2 billion.
The initiative commenced on Monday with a primary focus on Kololo, a prestigious diplomatic residential neighborhood that has long grappled with the menace of potholes. The road repair project targets prominent thoroughfares, including Prince Charles Drive, Elizabeth Avenue, Wampewo, John Babiha, Lower and Upper Kololo, Impala, Nile Avenue, Colville, and Kimathi Avenue, among others.
"The scope of works entails the total reconstruction of some areas' sub-base, base, and wearing course (the upper layer in the roadway" Lt. Col Robert Chabo of the SFC stated providing insights into the scope of the work.
After completing the repairs in Kololo, the SFC Engineers will move on to Kiyembe, downtown Kampala, before advancing to the city center and Old Kampala. The SFC has also committed to rectifying the dilapidated roads near the Law Development Centre and Makerere University.
Lt. Chabo emphasized that drainage work will follow the pothole repairs to ensure the durability and resilience of the restored road infrastructure.
This initiative was sparked by a visit from Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Special Operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who inspected the potholed roads earlier this year. In May, Gen Muhoozi, along with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) leadership, conducted a joint tour of the roads in the Industrial Area and expressed the urgent need for intervention due to the deplorable state of the roads.
Subsequently, President Museveni directed Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to facilitate cooperation between KCCA and the SFC Construction Regiment to address the infamous potholes in Kampala City.
Traditionally, KCCA had used murram to temporarily fill Kampala's potholes, but this solution often got washed away during the rainy seasons, leaving the roads in a dire state.
The prevalence of potholes in Kampala had triggered public outcry, with many citizens expressing their frustration on social media. Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, highlighted the issue during a parliament plenary session, lamenting,
"We have potholes of every design, and size, deep, shallow, wide, narrow, filled with water and dry ones, they are all in Kampala."
In response to mounting pressure and to enhance accessibility and road safety in the city, the SFC Construction Regiment and KCCA have undertaken this significant road repair endeavor. The project aims to bring relief to residents and commuters by addressing the longstanding issue of potholes and enhancing the quality of Kampala's road Infrastructure.
