The government has assured Parliament that preparations to redevelop markets across Kampala and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area have been completed and that construction works will begin soon.
The State Minister for Kampala, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, told MPs on the Presidential Affairs committee that government had already identified a contractor and was awaiting final clearance from the Solicitor General before works commence.
“We have already identified the contractor and works will start soon after receiving approval from the Solicitor General,” Kyofatogabye said.
The minister was responding to concerns raised by Makindye East MP, Ali Mulyanyama, who questioned the slow progress of a market project that was launched four years ago.
Mulyanyama told the committee that apart from the construction of a perimeter wall, little progress had been made and asked the minister to present detailed structural development plans when he next appears before the committee.
In response, Kyofatogabye said the markets are located on public land and that funding had already been secured to develop markets across Kampala and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
He said ownership of the public land should remain under local governments, including town councils, municipalities and district local governments, to prevent the privatisation of public facilities.
The minister also revealed that one of the requirements set by the funders was that project sites must have land titles before funding could be released.
He acknowledged that relocation of vendors and other occupants could present challenges but said the exercise would take only about one month and cost less than Shs100 million.
According to the proposed plan, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) will construct four markets, upgrade 72.06 kilometres of roads and develop storm water drainage channels covering about 6.5 kilometres.
Kyofatogabye said Kira Municipality is expected to benefit from the construction of two markets and one slaughter facility, alongside a two-kilometre storm water drainage channel.
In Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipal Council, government plans to construct one market, one slaughter facility, two drainage channels covering two kilometres each and upgrade 56.6 kilometres of roads.
Wakiso District Local Government is expected to receive three markets, 96.7 kilometres of roads and a three-kilometre stormwater drainage channel.
In Mukono, government plans to construct two markets and one slaughter facility, in addition to upgrading 59.63 kilometres of roads and constructing a two-kilometre drainage channel.
Addressing concerns about unemployment among young people and women, the minister said government would construct a market and a skilling centre in Nansana Municipality.
The project will also include the upgrading of 48 kilometres of roads and the construction of three stormwater drainage channels covering eight kilometres.
He called for collective responsibility among government ministries, agencies and local governments to ensure successful implementation of the projects.
Kyofatogabye further said Mpigi would benefit from the construction of two markets and the upgrading of 42.26 kilometres of roads.
Entebbe Municipal Council is expected to receive two markets, a 20.5-kilometre road network and two stormwater drainage channels covering four kilometres each.
However, MPs raised concerns about planning, budgeting and implementation of the projects.
Kachumbala County MP Patrick Isiagi urged the affected local governments to prepare physical development plans that can guide budgeting and implementation.
He argued that some local government budgets were inflated and resources had been misallocated while critical sectors remained underfunded.
Isiagi also asked the minister to provide policy direction on health, education, tourism, waste management and sports within Kampala, saying these sectors appeared to have received little attention under the metropolitan development programme.
Dodoth East MP Peter Pex Paak called for stronger enforcement of physical planning regulations to ensure orderly development.
Meanwhile, representatives from Mpigi expressed concern that despite hosting the Buyala waste management and disposal site, the district had not been adequately involved in planning and management of the facility.
Oyam South MP Patrick Obura and Rakai Woman MP Juliet Kinyamatama also questioned KCCA’s approach to solid waste management, arguing that the authority lacked a comprehensive master plan to address the growing challenge.
Committee chairperson Martin Ojara Mapenduzi directed the minister to return to the committee next week to respond to outstanding issues raised by legislators. Pres
Mapenduzi said several MPs were not convinced by the government’s claim that implementation of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Master Plan had reached 50 per cent progress and demanded further clarification.
