By Racheal N Namuli
Entebbe Municipal Council has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co. Ltd for the construction of the Katabi-Busambaga road. The agreement marks a significant step in enhancing road infrastructure in the region.
This development comes in the wake of severe flooding caused by the overflowing of Lake Victoria over a year ago. The floods claimed lives and devastated businesses across various parts of Uganda. In Entebbe, key areas such as Kigungu Catholic and its surrounding neighborhoods were severely affected. The situation was especially alarming in the Kitubulu area along Entebbe Road, raising concerns among local leaders and residents about the lack of alternative routes should water levels rise again and block access.
In response, Entebbe’s leadership prioritized the Katabi-Busambaga road for development under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program (GKMA-UDP) a project jointly funded by the World Bank and the Government of Uganda. The road will serve as a critical alternative route to mitigate the impact of future flooding in Kitubulu and surrounding areas.
The project is expected to cost over UGX 40 billion and will take approximately 18 months to complete. It is the third road in Entebbe to be constructed under the World Bank-funded initiative.
Mayor Fabrice Rulinda expressed confidence in the partnership with the Chinese contractor, led by Wen Jiahao. “We have great trust in this company’s expertise. So far, 92% of the affected residents have cooperated by voluntarily surrendering the required land,” Rulinda said.
He also urged the remaining residents occupying the road reserve to vacate immediately to prevent delays and complications during the construction phase.
