Kampala, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) recently underwent a board reshuffle, aiming to enhance the nation’s road network. General Katumba Wamala, the Minister for Works and Transport, presented the names of six new UNRA board members to the cabinet.
In a recent press briefing at the Media Centre, Dr. Chris Baryomusi, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, disclosed that Eng. Dr. Augustibe Obyero, a retiree from the Ministry of Works and Transport, is the new UNRA board chairman, succeeding the long-serving Fred Omach.
The newly appointed board members also include former Luweero woman MP Eng. Lilian Nakate, Engineer Stephen Kitonsa (the substantive commissioner for road bridges in the Ministry of Works), Market Ajok, and Patrick Mwanja. Baryomusi expressed confidence in their significant contributions to the roads agency’s development.
UNRA Executive Director Allen Kagina reported a notable expansion of the road network by 254.5 kilometers in the 2022/2023 financial year, resulting in a total of 6,133 kilometers of paved roads. Furthermore, 46 kilometers of town roads in various towns and municipalities outside the national road network were upgraded during the same period.
Kagina emphasized the transformative impact of this infrastructure investment, facilitating movement, promoting trade, and boosting tourism nationwide. However, she acknowledged UNRA’s challenge of grappling with a substantial debt of Sh629.1 billion accumulated over time.
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