The Minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, has commissioned government projects worth UGX 18 billion, constructed in Kamwenge District.
The commissioned projects are under the Uganda Support for Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program.
Minister Nabakooba said that the projects were extended to Kamwenge district because it is a refugee hosting community, and it also fulfills their mandate of fostering social cohesion between communities and refugees.
“The program is here in Kamwenge because you host many refugees. This will improve physical planning, secure land tenure, and allow you to enjoy some static infrastructure investments,” Minister Nabakooba said.
She added that with the infrastructural developments, there will be an enhancement in commercial agriculture since roads connect to locals from gardens to newly constructed markets.
Gilbert Kiracho, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist of USMID programs, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Dorcus Okalany, at the commissioning ceremony, said that the program comes in as a bridge between the required service delivery and the rapid urban growth.
She noted that by 2040, the total urban population in Uganda will be more than 20 million, representing 30 percent of the population.
“This means that the demand for urban services will escalate, and if the demand is not dealt with, the efficiency of Uganda’s system will be constrained,” Kiracho said.
Kiracho added that the development of refugee hosting communities is intended to strengthen interaction and peaceful coexistence among host communities and refugees.
Frank Tumwebaze, the Kibaale County Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, encouraged the locals to utilize the projects and improve their living standards.
He also lauded the technical team at the district for utilizing the funds properly in a very short time to ensure they transformed Kamwenge district.
“Other areas are given funds but are not able to utilize them in time. We count ourselves lucky for these socio-economic projects,” Minister Tumwebaze said.
Tumwebaze requested that the government consider them once again if more funds are available under the same program so that they are able to extend the developments to other areas within Kamwenge district.
The District Sports Officer, Meron Kyarisiima, appreciated the government for the playground and the assured promotion and development of talent among the young generation.
“As the sports fraternity, we are very happy for this stadium. We believe we will be hosting many matches and be able to promote talents,” Kyarisiima said.
The USMID programme in Kamwengye district saw the construction of the playground in Nkoma-Katalyeba Town Council, two resource centers built at Nkoma-Katalyeba Town Council and Nkoma Sub-County headquarters, two murram roads upgraded to grade C, which include Mabale-Kabuga-Rukunyu Hospital Road in Nkoma Sub-County, Businge-Kantembwe-Buregyeya-Nkoma Road, and two markets in Nkoma-Katalyeba Town Council and Nkoma Sub-County.
USMID is a government program funded by the World Bank to enhance the institutional capacity of local governments.
