In a move set to have a significant impact on Uganda’s transport infrastructure, Anita Among, The speaker of Parliament has issued new guidance on the management and use of the country’s Road Fund.
The guidance provides directives regarding the Shs1 billion additional funding granted for road maintenance across the nation’s numerous administrative units.
Speaking to the Members of Parliament, Among referenced previous deliberations on April 20th and May 18th, 2023, about the allocation of this additional funding. The funding is targeted to support road maintenance in 135 districts, 10 cities, and 31 municipalities across the country. The Speaker emphasized that the funds are not for road rehabilitation but for maintenance purposes.
In a series of decisive directives, Speaker Among outlined several key changes and directives:
“The grant previously known as the Road Rehabilitation Development Grant has been renamed to the Road Maintenance Grant, the management of the grant will be conducted under the Uganda Road Fund, 2008, and all regulations therein, the UGX 1bn additional funding is supplementary to previous budget allocations for road maintenance to districts, cities, and municipalities and that the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development is tasked with ensuring the full disbursement of these funds to the beneficiary administrative units.”
Other directives include; “The administrative units are required to utilize the funds prudently and accountably, adhering to the guidelines set out in the Uganda Road Fund Act 2008, all administrative units must hold immediate statutory meetings to prioritize and devise work plans in accordance with the Uganda Road Fund Act 2008, the work plans for each district, city, and municipality must receive approval from the respective roads committees. This will also apply to accountability reports, members should actively participate in all activities of their roads committees AND THAT Failure to comply with these directives will result in sanctions under the Laws of Uganda.”
The Speaker’s final directive was to the Clerk, who she instructed to extract and circulate these resolutions to the Minister of Works and Transport, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda Road Fund, and all Districts, Cities, and Municipalities.
This new directive represents a significant step in ensuring the proper utilization of the road fund, enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of Uganda’s road infrastructure. It underscores the government’s commitment to improving the country’s transport networks, crucial for the economic development and mobility of its citizens.
