KCCA road works lag as Parliament raises alarm over funding gaps, flood risk ‎

The Committee is also concerned that disbursement is performance-linked, meaning that continued slow progress will directly reduce KCCA's access to programme funds and jeopardise the broader metropolitan development objectives

‎Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure has raised concern over slow progress on key road projects under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP), warning that delays and chronic underfunding could derail the capital’s infrastructure ambitions.

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‎The committee noted that the $606 million (about Shs2.3 trillion) programme, funded by the World Bank and the French Development Agency, is the most significant urban development intervention in Kampala in recent years. It is expected to upgrade 81.87 kilometres of roads, improve drainage systems, and reconstruct key markets.

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‎However, lawmakers said progress on all five road construction lots remains far behind schedule.

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‎“The Committee notes with concern that the GKMA-UDP contracts commenced in April 2025 with an expected completion date of September-October 2026, leaving barely 6-7 months to completion.

Given that no lot has achieved even 50% progress and several key road sections (Ben Kiwanuka, Nsambya Estate, Kyebando) are at or near 0%, completion within the original timeline appears unachievable,” the report states.

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‎According to the findings, several roads across the city are significantly behind planned targets. Ben Kiwanuka Road in the Central Division, for instance, is stalled at less than one per cent progress, while Nsambya Estate Road in Makindye has not registered any progress at all.

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‎The committee warned that the programme’s performance-based financing model could further complicate implementation.

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‎“The Committee is also concerned that disbursement is performance-linked, meaning that continued slow progress will directly reduce KCCA's access to programme funds and jeopardise the broader metropolitan development objectives,” the report adds.

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‎It was also revealed that only Shs2.4 billion has so far been disbursed to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), with the FY2025/26 absorption rate standing at just 22.74 per cent by the second quarter.

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‎*Flood risks deepen*

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‎Beyond roads, the committee highlighted a severe drainage infrastructure deficit, describing it as a “clear and present risk to life and property.”

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‎“The Committee observes that the total unfunded drainage requirement of Shs261.23 billion (including infrastructure development and maintenance) represents a clear and present risk to life and property in the Capital City,” the report notes.

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‎Kampala’s drainage system, designed decades ago for a much smaller population, is struggling to cope with rapid urbanisation and waste accumulation, leading to frequent flooding during rainy seasons.

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‎The funding gap for critical drainage works stands at Shs136.5 billion, including construction of culverts at 103 blackspots, completion of the Lubigi drainage channel, and development of community drainage systems.

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‎Maintenance funding criticised

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‎Lawmakers also criticised what they described as chronic underfunding of road and drainage maintenance under KCCA.

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‎The city has a road network of 2,104 kilometres, but only 38 per cent is paved. Of the paved roads, about 38.5 per cent are in poor condition.

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‎Despite this, KCCA receives only Shs10 billion annually from the Uganda Road Fund, against a requirement of Shs55 billion.

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‎“The Committee notes with concern that Shs10 billion is grossly inadequate for maintaining a 2,104 km road network and the associated drainage infrastructure. This translates to approximately Shs4.75 million per kilometre per year, a figure that is insufficient even for basic routine maintenance,” the report states.

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‎The committee warned that failure to adequately fund maintenance would lead to higher reconstruction costs in the future.

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‎“The persistent under-allocation for maintenance is economically counterproductive: every shilling not spent on routine maintenance today results in multiples spent on rehabilitation and reconstruction tomorrow,” the report adds.

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‎Key recommendations

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‎The committee has urged government to direct KCCA to present a revised and realistic completion schedule for all road works, with clear accountability for contractors.

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‎It also called for expedited land acquisition processes, particularly on affected roads such as Katalemwa and Muganzilwaza, and full utilisation of the Shs196.976 billion allocated to the programme in the 2026/27 financial year.

‎In addition, lawmakers want the Uganda Road Fund allocation to KCCA increased to at least Shs55 billion and ring-fenced strictly for maintenance.

‎They further directed KCCA to “provide a comprehensive road condition survey of all 2,104 km of the Kampala road network, with a costed multi-year maintenance plan, to Parliament by December 2026.”

‎The committee emphasised that without urgent intervention, Kampala’s road and drainage challenges will continue to undermine urban mobility, economic productivity, and public safety.