The pothole saga: Why KCCA should act fast [EDITOR'S OPINION]

Kampala is a city that attracts close to a million people daily. Some of these live within, while most live on the outskirts or a few kilometers away. 

This number means the city’s administration (both political and technical wings) need to bring on their A game by ensuring good infrastructure (including roads) and orderly cleanness in the city. Sadly, this hasn’t been the case for a while.

How did we get here?

President Museveni has presided over perhaps one of the most corrupt governments in the region.

The potholes we see today, one would say, are as a result of corruption and a lack of commitment from the Government – through Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) – to bring good services closer to the people.

The current scandal – the Karamoja iron sheets scandal – is a good example of how funds/items meant for a particular cause end up in the hands of people we voted into office with hope that they will work for the good of the country.

As a result, potholes have surfaced in every part of the city, the infrastructure of government schools deteriorating into a worrying state, and government medical centres going months without medicines on top of their medical staff going months unpaid.

The last attempt by ex-KCCA executive director Jennifer Musisi to have such problems (potholes) in the city fixed ended up in theatrics of blame games with her being the victim. She was blamed by the President for causing him loss of support within the city in the 2016 presidential elections.

The potholes on our roads today could partly be the reason we have unending accidents, mostly by boda bodas within the city.

They could also be one of the reasons for the death of some patient (s) being rushed to hospital as ambulances rush on rugged roads to save a life or two.

The potholes could also be one of the reasons for the unending road traffic as car drivers figure out how to maneuver and get to wherever they are going as fast as possible.

It’s good the President seems to have picked interest in the matter. By close of the week, he had ordered sh6b be channeled to KCCA for the problem to be solved.

We’ll tell whether Government/KCCA is committed to getting rid of the potholes with time.