Infrastructure development we have done is not because of NAM, says Katumba Wamala
Uganda is hosting the 19th Summit of the Non Aligned Movement from January 15 to January 26,2024.
Minister of Works and Transport Gen Katumba Wamala has revealed that the infrastructure they have done is not mainly done because of Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit.
He made the revelation on Monday, January 15, 2023 while appearing on NBS TV morning show.
According to Katumba, they were planned developments. He noted that during CHOGM, there were challenges of where to pack aircraft of delegations.
“We started the expansion of Entebbe Airport and now the airport is able to conveniently pack 100 planes,” said Katumba.
He added, “The project of expansion of the airport; arrivals and departures. This is a project that is about two years old. It was done by UPDF in less than a year. These were activities that were planned to make sure the airport meets International standards.”
Katumba also said that developments at the airport are in phases.
“You will even see more upgrades at the airport. I can tell you that even in this Phase One, by July 2024, we will have another terminal,” he noted.
He revealed that the government has not borrowed money or hired transport s they decided to get all the transport assets from within government agencies.
“We got some assistance with transport assets from China, courtesy of the Chinese government. They have us 70 new vehicles, SUVs free of charge. The Indian government has given us buses and ambulances,” said the Minister.
Appearing on the same show, Eng Arthur Mijumbi noted that he doesn’t pin the opening of the flyover to NAM.
“These are plans that started a long time ago. The Kampala Flyover project was birthed by the Ministry of Works from 2008-2009,”said Mijumbi.
He said Kampala had narrow roads with Nsambya Road having four lanes but they are now providing eight lanes and a flyover.
“Mengo Hill had about 3 lanes, we now have five. Shoprite to Nakawa was about two lanes, we now have eight lanes. Queen’s Way had two lanes but it now has eight,” he explained.
He noted that the flyover is very unique because it is in the centre where, “we have all the problems in one; the issue of flooding, pedestrians mixing with the traffic, we needed to separate those people.”
“That section is where we have a lot of pedestrians in this city. This is a section where people are entering the city and leaving the city,” he added.
