By Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi
On Friday September 24th 2021, as Masaka City and District, we hosted Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, who inspected public works projects that are going on in the sub region.
The General inspected the main road between Kyabakuza round about and Welcome round about that is 82 percent complete and is, with the will of God, scheduled to be completed by October 18th.
In the same project, some other roads in the city including roads going to Kitovu and Kako cathedrals are going to be constructed, the same with Old Kumbu Road from Bukob as Road to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.
Then there is Nyendo-Kyakumpi and Kyakumpi-Villa Maria, the latter would have been part of Mpigi-Ssembabule Villa Maria road construction project.
The general is now healthy, after recovering from the assassination attempt by the terrorists where he lost his daughter Brenda Nantongo. Katumba was in a joyous mood, as ever before, accompanied by official from Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA)
Among the hosts included , Kimaanya Kabonera MP Dr. Abed Bwanika,Masaka City Resident City Commissioner Steven Asiimwe and Masaka District Resident Commissioner Teopista Lule Senkungo, Masaka City Mayor Florence Namayanja abd a few of her technocrats, and Masaka District Chairperson Mr. Batemyetto, NRM Chairperson Peter Sekungu, with a few of his technocrats too.
In a brief discussion at Kyabakuza round about, the Gen. agreed that we need to garden the main streets or avenues with planting grass, flowers and trees, UNRA was assigned to with the city authorities to negotiate with landlords where there may not be more land for road reserves.
The Chinese contractors agreed with the minister, to the request by Kimaanya Kabonera MP Dr. Abed Bwanika, to construct a shelter for passengers at the junction of Bukoba Road and the Mayor promised that it will be maintained.
DR. Bwanika also asked for Kyabakuza-Kiwangala Rakai, which, the Minister promised to look into, but on Bukoba Road or Masaka-Mutukula, he said, it is going to be funded by East Africa Community.
Both the Minister and the Mayor addressed some mechanics at Nyendo, and cautioned them against rioting and spoiling the road with burning tires and pointing oil on the tarmac. The mechanics promised to be law abiding.
After a successful tour of the city, the general proceeded to Nnyendo–Bukakkata road up to Bukakkata once a port, and Lambu landing site, where the constructors, Arab Contractors, accepted to expand the work further into both townships.
There was a stumbling block where a land owner is an obstacle before compensation. The general said that he would deploy soldiers from Armoured Brigade Kasijjagirwa, to protect the contractors to speed up the work, and the owner goes to court to get the compensation without delaying the completion of the project.
The NRM local chief Peter Ssenkungu summarized it all when he said that had such visible achievement ts which are an eye opener and a foundation for development been done earlier, there would be no National Unity platform (NUP) in Masaka.
Former Masaka District Chairperson Kalumba, who was a Transport Officer with Masaka Cooperative Union at the time National Resistance e movement/Army rebels rounded up Masaka and Mbarara towns in 1985 and provided trucks to the liberators, said this was the first real work done in Masaka in the last 30 years.
Both the Masaka Mayor Namayanja and Masaka District Chairperson Batemyetto, paid tribute to President Museveni and N RM Government for the projects and as local government leaders, promised to cooperate with Central Government in delivering service to the people.
Whether you like it or not, NRM Government is delivering at least in Greater Masaka, and the stumbling block of panga men is now a thing of the past, as even those that have been murdering boda boda riders have been arrested and a dozen is awaiting prosecution. Aluta Continua.
Haji Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi is a veteran journalist and Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Masaka City.
Contact 256-756/772-836537
Email: hajiahmedkateregga2016@gmail.com
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