The UPDF has said it will not listen to comments by some sections of leaders aimed at demotivating the Special Force Command engineers handling Kampala City Road repairs.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago on Tuesday told journalists that the SFC engineering regiment doesn’t have capacity to fix roads in the city.
“They have no capacity; they have no equipment, we don’t even know how many engineers they have. They are just hoodwinking Ugandans; putting up a smokescreen that something is happening,”Lukwago said , adding that the SFC is using KCCA equipment for the ongoing roadworks.
However, the UPDF deputy spokesperson, Col Deo Akiiki said many of those commenting about the ongoing works are misinformed.
“Unless there is any other reason or motivation for our leaders making such statements but we have always been seen by our fruits as the Bible says. When we started working on Namboole stadium, we got similar statements but where we are, everyone has kept quiet,” Col Akiiki said.
“Our engineers have been on ground for the last two or three weeks and are doing a good job. SFC engineering regiment is using its on equipment. May be it is those two pickups( that KCCA ED provided) we repaired that he is referring to. Everyone can go on ground and see what exactly is happening but not sitting to hear people in conference centres speaking.”
According to the deputy defence spokesperson, the comments by the Lord Mayor are misguided, adding that they will not listen to the same but continue with Kampala roadworks as stipulated in the contract.
Lt Eng. Kikomeko Kigongo told journalists last week that that they will spend shs2 billion on city road works.
This is lower than the over shs12billion that KCCA had indicated would be required to fix the bad roads in the city.
According to the SFC engineers, they have started repairs on Lower Kololo Terrace, K.A.R road, Snay Bin Amir rise, Kiyembe lane, William street, Burton street, Rashid Khamis Road, Nsalo road, Old Kampala ring, Fort Road, School road, , Wilson street, Dustur street, Sikh street, Berkeley road, Ginnery road and Boundary road among others in the Central Business District.
The engineers on Tuesday told the Special Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba who was inspecting the ongoing road works that they have been interrupted by rain.
When it rains most of the materials gets soaked yet the principle of engineering is that material should be used at a certain moisture content. When moisture content changes and material gets soggy, it is wasted,” Lt Eng.Kikomeko said.
“When it rains, the storm washes away some of the material but also when potholes take in water and vehicles drive over them, they become deeper. You end up using more material than anticipated. When you have put material in the pothole, it gets soggy and therefore you have to use more material. Rain also sees traffic building up which requires us a lot of resources to manage traffic which impedes on our progress but also increases our cost of operation.”
