Every time something comes to an end, something else begins. There is a growing concern about the bad conditions of roads across Kampala city that has attracted a lot of discomfort amongst citizens and most especially Kampala dwellers, with everyone asking whether it is the end of a beginning or the beginning of the end for a smart Kampala city.

Since last year, there has been a public outcry against the sorry state of the roads in Kampala. The outcry led to a week-long online exhibition of potholes in Kampala, led by Dr. Spire Ssentongo, intended to expose the dire situation of city roads and prompt the city authorities and government at large to take action.

During the exhibition, Ugandans posted on social media pictures of different potholes in their respective localities.

The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has always promised to provide the residents with a smart city that works for all, but well, there cannot be a smart city with such a road network that gives the illusion of a slum.

In reaction, President Museveni ordered the Ministry of Finance to immediately release Ugx6 billion for the rehabilitation of roads in the city. Where is the money?

Political opposition leaders, including those affiliated with the United Forces of Change Forces, led by National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulani, called for protests in Kampala and across Uganda on January 18, 2024, to denounce the allegedly poor state of road conditions in the country, which were however blocked by the police amidst safety precautions for the 19th NAM summit that was concluded in Kampala on January 20, 2024. However, activists have said that demonstrations against bad roads are slated to continue despite police deployments and arrest warnings made by the police spokesperson, SCP Fred Enanga. For how long will this last? I’m not sure!

Demonstrations are not always good for seating governments, as these are always politicized to rebuke regimes for other challenges in the daily administration that could injure the reputation of the ruling government of the NRM or even ignite its overthrow through a popular revolt.

The Arab Spring, which was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions in the early 2010s, is a good example of regimes being overthrown by popular revolts. Could bad roads across the city ignite the same?

Well, anything can happen because politics is dynamic. The demonstrations can attract funding or other logistical and technical support from anti-regime characters to ignite something bigger than mere protests.

Roads in Kampala and across the country are actually in a sorry state, and the KCCA ought to do something. Both the political and technical wings ought to stop the blame game and find a stable solution for the problem, which is none other than working on the state of the road network.

There have been accusations and counter-accusations for the bad roads from the political wing led by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and also from the technical wing that includes KCCA and UNRA, which are all attempts to avoid public guilt and criticism.

Citizens and residents are only left wondering whether it is the end of a beginning or the beginning of the end of bad roads in Kampala. The highly publicized smart city also remains theoretical.