Parliament has authorized authorities’s extra request to borrow and likewise obtain a grant of all totaling to over US$600 million to finance the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme.
The approval follows a movement moved by the State Minister for Finance, Hon. Henry Musasizi in the course of the sitting of the Housechaired by Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa on Wednesday, 22 January 2025.
Musasizi stated that the programme goals to strengthen the capability of the Ministry of Kampala City and Metropolitan Affairs, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and eight native governments throughout the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) to ship coordinated infrastructure and companies.
“The programme will contribute to the National Development Plan IV and particular aims embody enhancing financial infrastructure, conserving environmental property, supporting the casual sector, selling tourism, and enhancing service supply by native governments,” he defined.
The mortgage phrases have a 25-year maturity interval, together with a seven-year grace interval.
The Chairperson of the Committee on National Economy, Hon. John Bosco Ikojosaid there issteady progress on the undertaking which started after Parliament authorized the borrowing in May 2024.
“By the tip of quarter one,, flagship street tasks masking 29.74 km have been underway in Kira and Mukono municipalities. Thirteen extra street tasks totaling 81.25 km spanning six entities,Wakiso, Mpigi, Kampala, Makindye-Ssebagabo, Nansana, and Entebbe,have additionally been marketed,” he stated.
He famous that consultancy charges for civil works, environmental affect assessments and social safeguards have been in place. Ikojo nonetheless, added that delays in mortgage approval processes and fluctuating rates of interest from multinational lenders posed challenges.
The committee beneficial that the Ministry of Finance expedite mortgage negotiations to mitigate rate of interest dangers and minimise delays.
The Leader of Opposition Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi urged the federal government to make sure well timed completion of the tasks and worth for cash.
“As an MP from Kampala, this initiative ought to excite me. However, frequent delays, inflated prices and insufficient oversight are worrying. I hope for higher appraisal and accountability on the undertaking’s conclusion,” he stated.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa addressed considerations about KCCA’s efficiency, noting that regardless of receiving over Shs3 trillion since 2018, implementation on the bottom remained missing.
“The notion that the federal government isn’t funding Kampala is deceptive. The actual subject is poor implementation,” he stated.
