UGANDA | General Construction

[u.g boy]

Nakaseke-Masindi Bridge complete
Publish Date: Jul 24, 2012 Share

The Ngoma-Bulyamushenyu Bridge
By Frederick Kiwanuka

The long awaited Ngoma-Bulyamushenyu Bridge which connects Nakaseke to Masindi District across river Kafu, is to be completed next month, the project Manager, Engineer Jonathan Tugume has said.

Tugume said the 2.9bn bridge whose construction has dragged since 2010, will be ready for use next Month, after a delay of eight Months.

“By August it will be open for traffic, because the bulk of it is now complete,”Tugume said in an interview.

The new bridge which joins Bulyamushenyu, in Kinoni sub-county, Nakaseke District to Miduuma, in Kijunjuba sub-county, Masindi District, shortens the journey between Kampala and Masindi, by a distance of 20 Kms.

Constructed by AMPASS Technical Services a local firm, the Uganda Government funded bridge had initially been scheduled to be completed in a period of 12 Months from December 2010 to December 2011.

Tugume said the construction cost went up by 10 per cent as a result of some modifications made on the original design, which involved doubling the lane

The UNRA communications Manager, Daniel Alinange blamed the eight Months delay on the torrential rains of December 2011 and January 2012 which disrupted the progress of the work

He said the rains which brought the construction works to a standstill, washed away the original construction site, forcing the constructors to start afresh.

The project consultant, Enginner Fred Lusundo said the major construction works, including the casting of a 40 meter bridge deck and the raising of a 300 meter soil embankments had been completed.

“We are remaining with putting up guard rails and casting the walk ways for pedestrians ,which will all be done in by the end of July,” Lusundo who represents COWI/TRIO , the project consultancy firm ,said.

The UNRA Executive Director, Eng. John Sebanakitta, said Bulyamusenyu Bridge was an important link in the Uganda transport network that would significantly contribute to the economic prosperity of the people of the central region, especially Luweero and Nakaseke.

Sebanakitta said the Bridge will reduce travel time and thus improve trade, boost service delivery and promote development in the areas of: Luweero, Nakaseke and Masindi.

The people living on either side have hitherto been crossing with the help of canoes.

[u.g boy]

Govt asks contractors to raise sh2.5trillion for 20 roads

Publish Date: Jul 28, 2012

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By Joel Ogwang

THE Government is to engage private contractors to help raise $1b (sh2.5trillion) to develop over 1, 900km of roads geared at stimulating tourism, agriculture and oil and gas sectors across the country.

Under the new contractor-facilitated financing scheme, contractors will express interest in road projects and source for their funding from any financial institutions.

The scheme seeks to fast-track development of 20 out of the 44 priority roads to be worked on this 2012/13 financial year.

The roads will be upgraded from gravel to tarmac.

Construction is expected to be completed within a period of three to five years from commencement. Their development will last between six to 36 months.

A Design-Bid-Build project delivery strategy will be adopted for road projects for which designs are ready whereas the Design and Build approach will be adopted for road projects where designs are not yet ready.

How it will work

The Government will enter a memorandum of understanding with shortlisted firms to confirm their relationship in respect of financing and implementation of the works.

It will also enter into a conditional commercial contract with the winning tenderer conditioned on loan agreements being signed between the state and the winning contractors’ financiers.

The contractors will, in turn, negotiate with the finance ministry on interest rates and repayment periods, says Dan Alinange, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) publicist.

"It is a new thing we are trying-out. Under this arrangement, the contractor will price the road per kilometre and we (UNRA) will value the bid based on the cost of the road," he says.

"The contractor and financier who offer the best deal will win the tender and go ahead with the road works. The finance ministry will pay the financier over time".

The shortlisting of firms for the works will be conducted in accordance with the public procurement procedures contained in the Government of Uganda’s Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, 2003 and will be open to all bidders from eligible source countries.

To close corruption loopholes, the process up to the signature of the loan agreement will involve negotiation, cabinet approval, parliamentary approval and Attorney General’s legal opinion of the loan.

This will be followed by signature of the loan agreement between Government and the contractors’ financiers.

The project works will then commence immediately after the loan becomes effective following signature of the loan agreement and commercial agreement.

How UNRA was doing the bidding In the past, UNRA was taking unsolicited offers from contractors, notes Eng. Peter Ssebanakitta, the executive director.

"Now we are opting for a structured way of taking proposals," he says. Proposals calling for expression of interests have been advertised in the local media. However, no contractors have submitted their proposals.

"But we will start receiving them (proposals) by October. Contracts will most likely be given out early 2013."

Roads financing in Uganda

Traditionally, Uganda has relied on direct budgetary allocations to fund infrastructure developments but scanty tax revenues have meant the country’s road network remains poor, stifling growth in east Africa’s third largest economy.

For example, Uganda has only 3, 500km out of a total 20, 000kms of national roads under tarmac/ paved, while the rest are in bad to poor condition.

District, urban and community access roads are not any better.

However, the continued prioritisation of the roads and transport sectors, with over sh1trillion injected in the sector in the last three national budgets, has raised public appetite for better roads, yet it is not wholly quenched with quality roads.

One reason roads experts advance for this predicament, is the continued funding of road works off the consolidated fund, a norm adopted from the colonial times.

Experts argue that state funding of roads does not ensure reliability, timeliness and adequacy at a time Uganda hopes to transit from being a third-world/ low developed country into a medium-income status.

They also note that even when monies are ring-fenced for roads, they are susceptible to budgetary cuts due to the ever-changing government priorities and competing demands from other sectors.

“With funding of roads from the consolidated fund, we can’t get better roads easily,” says

Eng. Dr. Michael Odongo, the Uganda Road Fund (URF) executive director. “Countries are moving away from this source of funding because it has many challenges.”

The low road sector funding, too, threatens the realisation of the five-year National Development Plan as bad roads increase the cost of doing business, limits marketing and mobility of factors of production and, ultimately, infringes on the gross domestic product.

Economists assert that quality roads would leverage Uganda’s stagnated annual economic growth threshold of 6% over the past decade.

“This (Uganda) is a small economy and if we’re to wait for tax revenues to come in so that we develop these roads, it may take time,” says Alinange.

Why the new scheme

The contractor-facilitated financing schemewill come as sweet music to financial institutions, contractors and the Government, with its after-effects trickling down to road users who are starved of quality roads.

Ssebanakitta argues that with a poor investment climate in Europe beckoning, Africa is turning out to be a favourable investment hub for international investors, adding that one such sector that will benefit was roads and transport.

“In the past, we were getting ad hoc proposals of contractors who want to use their little money which didn’t measure up to the size of work they had. This meant projects lasted longer than the agreed time,” says Ssebanakitta.

“Now they have Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) where they can get money and we pay over time or through road tolls. PPP leverages innovation.”

The off-budget financing of roads will ensure road projects are kick-started and concluded within the contractual period, with the Government paying the financiers later-on.

Right now, there is a limitation to what extent the finance ministry can finance the roads budget against other sectors.

UNRA estimates that a minimum of $1b will be raised under the scheme.

“We have about 1,918km of roads which need to be built to spur development around the country,”says Alinange. “We think this is a step in the right direction.”

While the new scheme, as appealing as it is, will be open to all contractors, winning the lofty tenders won’t come cheap, says Ssebanakitta.


New Protea Hotel to be built in Hoima, Uganda

17 hours ago

Protea Hotels has just signed an agreement for the construction of another hotel in Uganda, bringing to four the number of properties in the country. The new hotel will be constructed in Hoima, which is in the centre of the Albertine Rift Valley oil exploration, extraction and processing region. This industry will be a key market segment of the hotel, which is to be built to oil and gas industry health and safety standards.

The 80-room hotel will have six conference facilities capable of hosting 300 delegates, two restaurants, a swimming pool, health club with gym, sauna and stream room, and disabled access to the property.
Construction starts in the 3rd quarter of 2012, and is expected to take 24 months to complete.

Stuart Cook, Managing Director of Protea Hotels Uganda, said Protea Hotel Kampala and Protea Hotel Entebbe were already open, while Protea Hotel Mbale joined the portfolio on July 1.

“Protea Hotels is rapidly expanding in Uganda. This process is largely being driven by corporate travel because there is a lot of economic growth within the country. There are four Protea Hotels now, but I certainly don’t expect this to be the last expansion announcement in the medium term,” Cook said.
The Protea Hospitality Group is driving a massive expansion programme through Africa this year, with new builds and management acquisitions in Uganda, Nigeria and Zambia.

Protea Hospitality Group CEO Arthur Gillis said Uganda was an exciting developing nation and one where the company hoped to expand substantially in the next decade.
“This is Africa’s time; never before has the continent offered so much in terms of political stability and economic growth.
“The Protea Hospitality Group is expanding both the Protea Hotels and African Pride Hotels brands into Africa because there is demand for brands that are strong and trustworthy that offer exceptional GUEST service,” said Gillis.

[u.g boy]

KABAROLE RECEIVES UGX 800M FOR BUHINGA STADIUM
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Submitted by Emmanuel Kajubu Accepted on2012-07-17 07:35:58

Government has released 800 million shillings for the construction of Buhinga Stadium in Fort Portal.

The release of the funds follows several meetings that have been held since the beginning of this year between Kabarole district officials led Juma Nyende, the Chief Administrative Officer, and Chris Kassami, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.

For more than five years, the district has been soliciting for funds to construct the stadium, but in vain. Part of the money worth 35 million that had been raised in 2009, was diverted to pay district debts.

Currently, the stadium which has hosted several national and regional soccer tournaments like the East African Secondary School games, Copa Coca Cola football tournament and Zone XI soccer tournament among others, is in an appalling state, which has been an embarrassment to the district.

There are no sufficient toilets, shelter, changing rooms and even shades under which officials can sit with spectators. There is no perimeter wall, leaving the stadium to be turned into grazing ground for cows and goats. When it rains, some football matches have to be postponed because the surface of the pitch becomes muddy and it floods.

The stadium is also sometimes used as a multi-function venue and the pitch gets damaged because besides football, it hosts concerts and rallies.

According to the plan seen by Uganda Radio Network, a perimeter wall will be constructed; the stadium will be a 30,000 seater with a pavilion, dressing rooms and more toilets.

Teopista Tumuhairwe, the Kabarole district sports officer, says that construction of the stadium will start before the end of this year.

Tumuhairwe says that since the money from the government isn’t enough, the district is designing a proposal that would be sold out to other partners to help finance the construction of the stadium.

She however refused to disclose how much is required to construct the stadium.

Michael Wandera, the Chairman Kabarole district football association who is also FUFA delegate for the district, welcomes the construction of the stadium. He says that once completed, clubs will be able to generate their own revenue through games.

He also says that through the games, the district will also be able to raise money to fund other sports activities.

//Cue in: “Construction of Buhinga…
Cue out: …sustain teams.”//

[u.g boy]

CAA to build two new airports
Tuesday, 14 August 2012 07:46 Emma Onyango

KAMPALA, Uganda's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has embarked an ambitious expansion programme that will see the elevation of two aerodromes into International Airports.

According to Mr. Ignie Igunduura, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Public Relations Manager told the East African Business Week that the master plan studies and engineering designs for the development of the Gulu and Kasese aerodromes into International Airports have been completed.

"The master plan studies' report has already been submitted to government but they (aerodromes) are going to be developed in phases because it wouldn't be easy to do all of them at a go," Igunduura said.

The development of the Gulu (Northern Uganda) and Kasese (Western Uganda) aerodromes into Airports would inevitably help Entebbe International Airport, Uganda's only airport with the overwhelming traffic numbers that have over the years increased rapidly. In July, Entebbe Airport received the 2012 Routes Africa Marketing Accolade for managing to attract the largest number of reputable airlines but the Airport is finding it difficult to manage the ever growing traffic.

According to Mr. David Mpango Kakuba, the Deputy Managing Director of CAA, "Air passenger traffic at Entebbe is steadily growing, currently at 1.2 million per year compared to three years ago when it was only 500,000 passengers."
According to sources, it is expected that the United Nations base near the airport will have close to 6,000 personnel, coupled with the onset of oil drilling; the country is expected to experience increased activity at Entebbe Airport. If the expansion process of the airport is not fast tracked, the numbers could overwhelm the authorities.

The Uganda Revenue Authority's (URA) customs department has also asked the authorities to provide the Cargo section with an independent area away from the current location so as to minimize loopholes during loading and offloading of cargo.

With the construction of two new airports, pressure would ease from Entebbe and passengers would be able to fly directly to and from these areas.According to Igunduura, the development of the two aerodromes would cost an estimated $240m and that there were negotiations between government and a Chinese company to fund the projects.

The CAA currently manages 13 aerodromes as well as the Entebbe Airport but there are other privately owned airfields. Igunduura also added that the Arua Aerodrome (West Nile) is undergoing expansion and that CAA was working on acquiring more landfor access roads, apron for air planes.

[u.g boy]

Shs6b athletics camp to be built in Kabale

Kiprotich celebrates befrore breaking the Olympic marathon tape. Photo by AFP

By Sande Bashaija (email the author)

Posted Monday, September 17 2012 at 00:00
IN SUMMARY

Coaches reckon such projects are the only sure way for Uganda to produce more athletes of Stephen Kiprotich’s stature.

A group of former runners is embarking on a project aimed at making Uganda an athletics powerhouse in the world.

Western Region Athletics Association (WRAA), led by current national coaches head Moses Twesigye-omwe and former Makerere University assistant sports tutor John Bosco Bananuka, have already secured land in Kabale where a training camp, estimated to cost Shs6b, is to be constructed. “If we are to win international medals like Stephen Kiprotich did at the Olympics recently, the country must rally behind this project,” Mackaybeth Akankwasa, a former national long distance runner and member of WRAA, noted at the weekend. “This is probably the best development to come out of Uganda’s sports since Kiprotich won gold.”

Due to lack of standard facilities in Uganda, Kiprotich had to train in Kenya before he stunned the world to win the Olympic marathon last month. Many more other runners, like double Olympic long distance (5000m and 10,000m) champion Mo Farah, trained in Iten, Kenya in the build-up to the Games.

With such a facility in Uganda, it is believed international stars could be attracted to train here and in the end further improve the levels of sports in the country.

“Why should Ugandans train in Kenya when we have a similarly conducive environment in Kabale,” Charles Karuma, the Kabale District sports officer, wondered. “This is a very exciting project. I am sure it will change the face of Uganda’s athletics,” he added.

There are two camps in Uganda, both of them in Bukwo. Government has also secured funding to construct another in Kapchorwa.

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“Western Uganda, Kabale in particular, once produced brilliant runners but not anymore. We hope this will help revive sports in the region,” Karuma noted.

Just like Bukwo, Kabale is on a high altitude and can aid middle and long distance training. Interestingly, John Akii-Bua (RIP) trained in Kabale weeks before he won Uganda’s first Olympic gold medal in Munich 1972.

Kabale has also previously produced world class athletes like Peter Rwmuhanda (RIP) and Nalis Bigingo, the coach who played a big role in helping Kiprotich excel at the Olympic. In order to revive the sport, WRAA are holding holiday camps, training over 30 school-going runners, according to Akankwasa.

“The holiday camps are beneficial but we need something permanent. At times we find difficulty in securing proper accommodation for the runners. But schools like Kabale Lower Primary and Trinity College have been helpful,” Akankwasa revealed.

Being a huge money project, Akankwasa said they are approaching local and international corporate companies to give a helping hand.

“We have reached somewhere,” he said.

KABALE PROJECT PLAN
Recreation Block: 305b
Hostel block : 20b
Administration block: 16b
Track and field: 150bn
Sources of funding: Partnerships with corporate companies, contributions from members and well-wishers, fund-raising drives.
Sources of funding: Partnerships with corporate companies, contributions from members and well-wishers, fund-raising drives.
Beneficiaries: Runners, footballers, rugby players, basketballers and other sportsmen seeking endurance training

[u.g boy]

Uganda gets Shs250m for new stadium
By Abdu Wasike (email the author)

Posted Saturday, September 22 2012 at 01:00
IN SUMMARY

Although baseball was introduced in Uganda about 12 years ago, a team from Lugazi shocked an American side at the Little League World Series last month.

Kampala

The Uganda Baseball and Softball Association (UBASA) has received a $100,000 (about Shs250m) from the Japanese Embassy to construct a modern stadium.

According to UBASA treasurer Denis Kasozi, the association has secured land in Gayaza where the facility, the first of its kind is to be set up. “Gayaza Catholic Parish has given us three acres of land,” Kasozi said. “The land is located in Nangabo Sub-county. The facility will benefit over 20,000 players.”

The association is waiting for clearance from Tokyo for construction to start, according to Kasozi. Introduced in Uganda in 2000 by Richard Stanley, a volunteer, baseball is growing impressively.

In August last year, Uganda (under-12) became the first African team to qualify for the Little League World Series. The youngsters, however, failed to make the trip to USA after several players could not secure visas. But just last month, a team from Lugazi made history at the Little League World Series when they won a consolation game 3-2 against Gresham (USA). It’s that success that prompted the Japanese to offer support to Uganda.

Elsewhere, Kyambogo Cubs and Victory Rovers Lugazi face off this morning in the under-12 baseball final at Kyambogo. Cubs edged St Peters 3-2 and Lugazi thrashed Sharing 6-1 last week to secure places in final.

[u.g boy]

Kakira Sugar Limited for US$65m Expansion
Publish Date: Oct 01, 2012

Kakira sugar factory is to undergo a US$65m expansion. Photo by Donald Kiirya
newvision

By Donald Kiirya

Kakira Sugar Limited (KSL) is to invest US$65m that will lead to an increase in sugar production and power generation, Mayur Madhvani, one of the joint managing directors, has revealed.

Mayur revealed during a press conference at the Kakira-based factory on Friday.

“With the expansion, the factory will be able to crush 2m tons of cane per annum,” he said.

“1.40m tons of cane will come from out grower farmers and the balance of 600,000 tones will come from the company’s own nucleus estate, and produce 180,000 tons of sugar per annum,” Mayur said.

Mayur added that with the increase in the crushing capacity, there will be more sugar cane waste, known as baggasse from which electricity is generated.

“KSL, which is currently generating 22MW of power and feeding 14MW to the national grid, will be able to increase power generation to 52MW, of which 32MW will be exported to the national grid on a regular basis,” Mayur explained.

He said that the expansion, which includes installation of turbines, alternators and construction of a new boiler, is well underway and will be complete by June 2013.

“Jinja town, including industries, consumes around 18MW of power per day basing on reliable sources,” he said.

“Kakira will be giving 32MWs so we will be giving more than Jinja, Kamuli and Iganga.”

“The 52MW that will be generated will be equivalent to power generated by one turbine at the old dam,” he said.

He said that in the future KSL will be producing ethanol from molasses that can be blended with fuel to run vehicles and machines.

“Producing ethanol from molasses is not something that is new, it is being done elsewhere in the world, but a few like KSL want to produce renewable energy for the next generation and this is one of our plans.

“Mayur further said ethanol can be used to make purified spirits like rum, vodka among others and revealed that KSL will soon start making a spirit to be named Kakira Gold.

KSL currently employs 8000 people, who along with their families benefit from the operations of the sugar complex.

There are also about 8,500 registered farmers who supply over 1m tons of cane per year to the factory and KSL provides full assistance and support to independent out grower farmers, including supply of seed cane and agro-chemicals, advice on modern agricultural practices and techniques.

[u.g boy]

Kampala-Jinja highway planned for redevelopment
Publish Date: Oct 26, 2012

The Northern by pass
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By Raymond Baguma

A new sh700 billion eight-lane express highway is planned from Kampala to Jinja to handle the rising traffic and improve the state of the national road network, the Uganda National Roads Authority has revealed.

The new expressway will operate as a toll road, meaning that it will attract a nominal fee in order for motorists to use it and enable the investor recover the costs.

Daniel Alinange, the UNRA corporate communications manager said there is an increasing demand for social infrastructure such as electricity and roads.

Alinange said, “If all goes well, we are hopeful that next year we may get a partner to help us construct it.”

According to the road design details of the proposed express highway, the new 8-lane road is planned to start from the current pedestrian overhead bridge at Nakawa.

The express highway will then go to Namboole with an interchange that will form the proposed Southern Bypass from Namboole, which will service the Industrial Park as well as the planned Inland Port at Bukasa.

However, the Government lacks sufficient financial resources to invest, and is opting for partnerships with private companies under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. However, the PPP law is yet to be passed by Parliament.

According to David Luyimbazi, the UNRA Director for Planning, the Kampala-Jinja expressway is viable for investment because on average, the current road handles up to 40,000 vehicles every day and the volume of traffic is growing at an average of between 5-8 percent every year.

[u.g boy]

Eight-lane Jinja-Kampala highway in plan
Publish Date: Oct 29, 2012
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By Raymond Baguma

Government is planning to build a sh700b eight-lane express highway from Kampala to Jinja to handle the rising traffic.

The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) revealed that the expressway will be a toll road, meaning that it will attract a nominal fee for motorists to use.

Daniel Alinange, the authority’s corporate communications manager said there is an increasing demand for social infrastructure, mainly the roads.

“We are hopeful that we may get a partner next year to help us construct it,” said Alinange.

According to the design details of the proposed highway, the road is planned to start from the current pedestrian overhead bridge at Nakawa in Kampala.

The highway will then intersect with the proposed Southern bypass near Namboole.

The Government does not have enough money and is opting for partnerships with private companies under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

However, PPP law is yet to be passed by Parliament.

According to David Luyimbazi, the roads authority’s director for planning, the expressway is a viable investment because on average, the current road handles up to 40,000 vehicles every day and the volume of the traffic is growing at an average of between 5 and 8% every year.

Quoting experts, Luyimbazi said it is estimated that in the next five to 10 years, the Kampala-Jinja road, in its current state, will not be able to contain the ever-rising traffic congestion.

The highway will ease traffic flow because the current Kampala-Jinja road is the most heavily trafficked road in the country.

It is the major import-export route to the Kenyan port of Mombasa.

Alinange said the Ministry of Finance has pledged funds to compensate residents who will be affected. The old road will be maintained as a free facility to cater for those unable to pay.

Luyimbazi said the route for the planned Kampala-Jinja expressway will run parallel and south of the present Kampala-Jinja road.

It will join the old one at Namataba. It is also proposed to go through a section of the Lugazi sugar plantation, but will avoid the Mabira forest.

The Southern bypass has been planned to have tunnels through highly developed and populated areas. It will also have viaducts built to avoid swamps, according to Luyimbazi.

Alinange also revealed that designs for express highways which include the Kampala-Mpigi as well as the Kampala-Bombo one have been finalized.

[sseki2010]

Originally Posted by u.g boy

Eight-lane Jinja-Kampala highway in plan
Publish Date: Oct 29, 2012
.

By Raymond Baguma

Government is planning to build a sh700b eight-lane express highway from Kampala to Jinja to handle the rising traffic.

The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) revealed that the expressway will be a toll road, meaning that it will attract a nominal fee for motorists to use.

Daniel Alinange, the authority’s corporate communications manager said there is an increasing demand for social infrastructure, mainly the roads.

“We are hopeful that we may get a partner next year to help us construct it,” said Alinange.

According to the design details of the proposed highway, the road is planned to start from the current pedestrian overhead bridge at Nakawa in Kampala.

The highway will then intersect with the proposed Southern bypass near Namboole.

The Government does not have enough money and is opting for partnerships with private companies under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

However, PPP law is yet to be passed by Parliament.

According to David Luyimbazi, the roads authority’s director for planning, the expressway is a viable investment because on average, the current road handles up to 40,000 vehicles every day and the volume of the traffic is growing at an average of between 5 and 8% every year.

Quoting experts, Luyimbazi said it is estimated that in the next five to 10 years, the Kampala-Jinja road, in its current state, will not be able to contain the ever-rising traffic congestion.

The highway will ease traffic flow because the current Kampala-Jinja road is the most heavily trafficked road in the country.

It is the major import-export route to the Kenyan port of Mombasa.

Alinange said the Ministry of Finance has pledged funds to compensate residents who will be affected. The old road will be maintained as a free facility to cater for those unable to pay.

Luyimbazi said the route for the planned Kampala-Jinja expressway will run parallel and south of the present Kampala-Jinja road.

It will join the old one at Namataba. It is also proposed to go through a section of the Lugazi sugar plantation, but will avoid the Mabira forest.

The Southern bypass has been planned to have tunnels through highly developed and populated areas. It will also have viaducts built to avoid swamps, according to Luyimbazi.

Alinange also revealed that designs for express highways which include the Kampala-Mpigi as well as the Kampala-Bombo one have been finalized.

thats very good banange

[urban stylin]

thats much needed with the grizzly accidents that occur on that road on a daily, I wish the road went to the Busia/Malaba border though it would be a huge boost for Kenya/Uganda trade

[sseki2010]

Originally Posted by urban stylin

thats much needed with the grizzly accidents that occur on that road on a daily, I wish the road went to the Busia/Malaba border though it would be a huge boost for Kenya/Uganda trade

true

[MUGiSA3000]

Goodstuff!
Looking forward to it in anticipation, especially as we ply that route to work in the east where our demonstration ranch is between Pallisa and Mbale.

[u.g boy]

Buseruka dam to supply power to 1,000 homes
Publish Date: Jan 25, 2013

The power house at the new Buseruka hydro power station in Hoima. PHOTO/Ronald Kalyango
newvision
By Ronald Kalyango

The days of load shedding electricity are increasingly getting numbered, following the addition of 19 megawatts to the national grid by Hydromax Ltd, a renewable energy firm. President Museveni is expected to officially launch the project today Friday in Buseruka, Hoima district.

The $30m project on River Wambabya in Buseruka subcounty will provide, green energy adequate to power over 1,000 households in Hoima and Masindi, in addition to providing lighting for hospitals, schools, churches and community centres.

The project whose construction started in 2008, is owned by Hydromax Ltd, a subsidiary of Dott services Ltd, a company best known for road construction. The dam’s technical commissioning was done on December 9 last year. “Despite the initial challenges we faced during the implementation of the project, it has had the fastest completion time from licensing to commissioning,” said Maheshwara Reddy, the managing director of Dott services Ltd. He said the project had exposed more than 100 youths, who participated in the construction works, to a lot of technological transfer.

“I am happy to note that the technology transfer arising from this project will be very useful for similar projects in the future. And because of it, many areas have been opened up for rural electrifi cation,” Maheshwara pointed out.

Rao Venugopal, the Hydromax Ltd project director, said while Dott Services handled all the civil construction works, the electro-mechanical works were done by Flovel Energy Pvt Ltd. The hydro-mechanical works on the other hand were executed by Sigma engineering Pvt Ltd together with Indo-Asiatic for gates and hoists works. He also pointed out that Utility Engineering Services Ltd is currently constructing the 44km of high voltage transmission lines in the area.

The construction works, according to Venugopal, are funded by the Government through Rural Electrification Agency of the
energy ministry. “When the construction works are completed, we shall be able to evacuate electricity from the power house to a substation in Hoima district where it will be connected to the national grid,” said Venugopal.

He said TATA consulting engineers was in charge of project management from design to commissioning stage, supervision including training of technicians during the project’s inception, on behalf of Hydromax.

Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Energy while on a recent site tour said the completion of the dam would be a huge boost to the sector, noting that it would lower power charges and enhance the region’s development. He pointed out that the people of Bunyoro would get stable power supply when the dam is completed.

Kaliisa noted that construction of a line to evacuate power from the dam onto the national grid at Kinubi sub-station in Hoima would be completed soon. He said part of the power would be used in the oil exploration industry in the whole of Lake Albert region.

The project directors explain that they wanted to invest part of their resources in renewable energy in the country and that is how the idea of power generation came about. “As young entrepreneurs; we saw a big opportunity in Uganda for Hydro power projects due to its geographical and climatic conditions,” said Reddy Prasad, director, Dott Services. He said before they explored the opportunity of investing in hydro power they first gathered enough data about similar projects in India.

Prasad, however, said after mobilising resources, they later established that there was no effective legal framework in place to guide the developers to set up and implement the project. He also noted that there were no proper roads to lead them down the escarpment to carry out the necessary geo-technical investigations and other studies in the area. “We had to do a lot of crossculverts and access roads to take the drilling rig down the escarpment,” says Prasad. He explained that after overcoming the initial challenges, their next task was to mobilise the needed resources to fi nance the project.

Prasad said they (directors) are grateful to the African Development Bank who provided a loan of $9m (about sh18b) for construction of the dam. He also noted that the Eastern and Southern Trade Development Bank (PTA) in Nairobi provided additional funds for the project. “With the experience gained in development of the power dam, the promoters have embarked on carrying out feasibility studies for other potential projects including exploring wind energy,” he explained.

After the dam’s commissioning, Prasad said they had received a distribution license from the Electricity Regulation Agency to distribute the generated electricity in the two districts of Hoima and Masindi district respectively. He said the Buseruka project would contribute to economic development by facilitating growth and social service delivery.

[u.g boy]

Gulu’s dream market misses deadline

SUNDAY, 27 JANUARY 2013 19:36 WRITTEN BY GILLIAN LAMUNU 0 COMMENTS

Part of the incomplete Gulu market


Gulu was thrilled when in 2009 the municipality was picked among 19 others, where a modern market worth Shs 26bn would be built.

The markets are funded under the African Development Bank’s Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme (MATIP). Contract terms from the ministry of Local Government indicated that construction would commence in October 2010 and end in October 2013. However, the contractor now says they will not beat the deadline, having had to make some changes in the scope of work.

According to the contract manager, Uma Mahesh of Dott Services Ltd, the market will take an additional six months to complete.

“There was change in the scope of our work and at some point we halted for a month; so, we need some more time,” Mahesh said.

Mahesh added that the company also needs more time to import electric materials for wiring the market. This glitch would not be the first to befall the project. Last January, construction was halted after the Local Government minister, Adolf Mwesige, ordered the arrest of Gulu Municipal town clerk, Augustine Bujara, after it emerged that Shs 10bn had gone missing.

It was further discovered that Dott Services had reduced the scope of work by 9.6 metres from the original 54 metres, citing a spike in the cost of construction materials. At the time, the market was also being built as a single- storey structure contrary to the approved architectural plan.

Gulu Mayor George Labeja also indicated that the market was being constructed for only 1,800 vendors, leaving out hundreds more, who were operating in the environs of the old one. This has since been corrected. The market can now accommodate 4,400 vendors, a development that is likely to delay the construction process further, Labeja said.
Santo Olana, a trader who deals in fabric material at Kaunda grounds, where some of the vendors were relocated to make way for the construction, says they can’t wait to return to the market.

“I am desperate to go back to the main market because everything here is not business-friendly,” Olana says. “I recently made losses of Shs 50,000 because termites made moulds on the fabrics I had bought…”

Yet Olana’s business may not return to its old home any time soon although the project supervisor, Godfrey Obura of the ministry of Local Government, has told The Observer that the ministry has not approved a deadline extension.

“The deadline is still October 2013. Dott Services can still employ more workers to beat that deadline,” Obura said.

But Mahesh, who admitted that his company made unspecified losses in putting up the northern part of the market, added that Dott Services employs workers in stages to ensure that one thing is done at a time to ensure good quality. On his part, Gulu RDC, James Nabinson Kidega, warned Dott Services against sub-standard work.

“There was corruption and the 9.6 metres which was reduced should be compensated and the contracted company should come out very clearly on this,” he said.
Upon completion, the market will have a nursery for mothers working as traders, a modern restaurant, CCTV cameras and fire-fighting services.

[Wandexx]

KAMPALA - The Government is coming up with physical planning regulations that will forbid construction of bungalows within the vicinity of Kampala's Central Business District and promote only high-density buildings of ten storeys and above.

The minister of lands, housing and urban development Daudi Migereko said on Tuesday that this is intended to provide sufficient housing for the ever-rising population in Kampala city.

“The plans we are coming up with require that we build going up in the sky because the population is going up and services must be provided. Construction should be of high rise structures to optimally utilize land,” Migereko said.

“Individuals who want to have one-acre pieces of land and build bungalows, and maintain their secrecy behind wall fences will move 30 to 50 miles from the capital city."

The minister however did not explain what will happen to the existing bungalows in Kampala.

He was on Tuesday speaking during the breakfast meeting at Imperial Royale Hotel on the need for changing cities and providing adequate housing.

The meeting was organized by the Shelters and Settlements Alternatives, Uganda Human Settlements Network and the Uganda Cooperative Alliance.

Present were Members of Parliament on the physical planning committee, officials from banking institutions, lands ministry and representatives of tenants within Kampala.

Migereko said that with the increasing population, there is need to emphasize the respect of laws relating to physical planning in the country and strictness in following of the urban physical plans.

He also cautioned people who set up unplanned structures in the country, that they risk losing their investments, and asked officials not to approve plans for structures that do not conform to the laid out physical plans for areas.

According to Migereko, Uganda currently has a shortage of houses of up to 1.6 million units, which challenge also presents an investment opportunity in the construction and real estate industries.

According to him, the housing sector in Uganda faces challenges such as unreasonably priced land and houses in urban areas, fraudulent land titles, costly building materials, as well as limited information on the construction industry.

He said that government is revising the law on construction codes, which sets the specifications of building materials to be used in the country.

Migereko said that with advance in construction technology, there are affordable innovations such as prefabricated materials, steel and glass, which is moving away from the conventional use of blocks and bricks as building materials.

[u.g boy]

New dual carriage bridge at Malaba to ease trade
Publish Date: Mar 14, 2013

The new bridge will cost sh118b replacing the old one that was constructed in 1961
newvision
By Daniel Edyegu

The construction of a dual carriage bridge aimed at enhancing transportation of cargo between Uganda and Kenya has commenced at Malaba border in eastern Uganda. The European Union is funding the construction of the bridge projected to cost Ksh3.8b (about sh119b).

Maltauro and H. Young construction companies have been contracted to build the bridge. Rogard Karani, the H Young site engineer on Tuesday explained that the initial phase of the construction started in January and will last six months. The new bridge comes with a tarmac 1km road that will stretch from Kenya customs department to Uganda.

“At present, we are laying the metallic ground foundation and building columns that will support the bridge. Thereafter, Maltauro firm will take over the construction of the top slab for the bridge and the road,” Karani said. The dual carriage bridge will replace the current single carriage one. The existing bridge was built by the British in 1961. It is now old and incapable of sustaining the increasing cargo traffic from Kenya destined to Uganda and neighbouring landlocked countries.

Geoffrey Balamaga, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) eastern regional manager said the new bridge would ease the flow and clearance of cargo trucks at Malaba. “On average, Malaba border clears more than 700 cargo trucks entering the country daily and 500 export cargo trucks. Due to the narrowness of the old bridge, we are forced to clear one truck at a time. With the completion of the new bridge, we will be able to access more trucks and speed up clearance,” Balamaga explained.

Truck drivers are equally excited about the new bridge and road. James Moturi, a truck driver said: “the road stretching from Kenya customs department to Uganda is riddled with potholes. Cargo trucks often get stuck in these portholes. This raises the cost of repairs for our trucks. The new road will relieve us of this challenge.”

[u.g boy]

Jinja mayor demands early kickoff of Uganda Vision 2040

By ISAAC MUFUMBA

Posted Thursday, April 25 2013 at 11:34
IN SUMMARY

Since July 2006 when Jinja marked 50 years as a municipality and 100 years as a town, local leaders have been agitating for the elevation of the town to city status.

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The transformation of Jinja Municipality into a “strategic industrial city” as projected under the $200 billion Uganda Vision 2040 should start now, the area Mayor Muhammad Baswari Kezaala has said.

“Instead of waiting, the implementation should begin now and move progressively,” Mr Kezaala said.

The Uganda Vision 2040 that was launched by President Yoweri Museveni last week lists Jinja, Hoima, Nakasongola and Fort Portal as the 4 strategic cities to be developed.

Since July 2006 when Jinja marked 50 years as a municipality and 100 years as a town, local leaders have been agitating for the elevation of the town to city status.

The government says Jinja can be declared a city only if it has capacity to meet the cost of service delivery, enough water sources, having a master plan and having a population of at least 500,000 people at night.

“Government does not consider the municipality’s day time population, but if it had done so, we would by now be a city,” he said on Tuesday.

The government wants to turn Jinja and Nakasongola into industrial cities, Hoima into a gas and oil city while Fort Portal would be transformed into a tourism city.

Listing some of the advantages that the town has, Mr Kezaala said that it is on a highway, has an airstrip, a bus park, a taxi park, a regional referral hospital and many private medical facilities.

He said Jinja and the Swedish City of Skelleftea recently launched a Shs3 billion project aimed at beautifying the town. This will see the town’s main street redesigned and up to 66 private buildings painted. This, he said, should make government’s work easier.

Jinja Municipality covers an area of 11.5 square miles (28 Square Kilometers) and it is home to Nalubaale and Bujagali power dams.

[u.g boy]

Shs5b housing project starts
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By Joseph Omollo

Posted Thursday, May 16 2013 at 01:00
IN SUMMARY

Beneficiaries are expected to pay 10 per cent of the total cost of the house in 15 years.

The construction of Shs5 billion low cost housing estates at Kasoli slum in Tororo Municipality has kicked off.
The project is aimed at providing cheap accommodation and transforming the slum into a modern housing estate.

Tororo deputy Resident District Commissioner Stanley Opio on Monday handed over the first phase of the project, where a total of 108 houses will be constructed by Empire Contractors Limited.

Mr Opio warned local leaders against inciting the public to sabotage the project.

Mr Dave Kayangayanga, the principal housing officer in the Ministry of Lands, said the pilot project under the low cost mortgage initiative is funded by UN-HABITAT, DFCU Bank, the government and the Kasoli Cooperatives Savings and Credit Society.

He said after the structures are completed, beneficiaries will be required to pay 10 per cent of the total cost of the house within 15 years in order to fully own the house.

Mr Kayangayanga said the government had already surveyed all the land and handed over all the documents to funding bank, DFCU.
The bank will hand over the documents to beneficiaries upon completing to pay the loans.

Mr Kayangayanga added that the lowest house will cost Shs26m while the highest is estimated at a cost of Shs29m.