Parliament has learned today that the government requires two more years to acquire the right of way for the delayed Kampala –Jinja Expressway project due to insufficient funds to compensate project-affected persons.
This was contained in the statement on the status of the Kampala-Jinja Expressway which the Ministry of Works presented to parliament today.
In a statement presented to Parliament by the Minister of State for Transport Fred Byamukama on the status of the Kampala-Jinja Expressway; the project will be undertaken as a Public Private Partnership (PPP). The developer will mobilize private financing towards the implementation of the project, which they will recover over a 25-year Operation and Maintenance period.
However, Byamukama noted that all the bidders participating in the procurement have raised ‘bankability issues’ that affect the project’s ability to commit private financing.
The Minister Appraised Parliament that the land required for 45km has been acquired including 14km along the Southern Bypass and 31 km along the Kampala – Jinja mainline. He told parliament that the government would require more than two years to acquire the full section of right of way needed for the entire project.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa who was displeased by the statement slammed bureaucratic procurement procedures that cause unnecessary delays in implementing national strategic projects.
Tayebwa wondered why the procurement process for the construction of the Kampala – Jinja Expressway has taken more than five years, a development he said is already costing the taxpayers’ money.
Parliament didn’t adopt the statement and sent back the minister to collect information and appraise parliament on the status of all roads across the country.
