A group of Members of Parliament representing Kampala has issued a stern warning of potential protests against the persistent issues of flooding and potholes in the city if the government fails to address them promptly. They have given the government a two-week ultimatum to resolve these problems.

During a recent parliamentary session, Abubaker Kawalya, the MP for Rubaga North, highlighted the city’s inadequate drainage system, which has led to frequent flooding. He cautioned that if the government does not take corrective action within the stipulated 14-day period, they will mobilize and stage protests.

“We will not stand idly by and watch these problems persist. We are giving them a maximum of two weeks to address the many challenges that have been affecting our constituents, particularly the issue of flooding. We all understand the causes of flooding, and the state and quality of our drainage system are in poor condition,” said Kawalya.

Kawalya also questioned the proposal put forth by Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the First Son, to deploy Special Forces Command (SFC) to fill Kampala’s potholes with soil during his tour of the city. He argued that the fundamental issue with Kampala’s infrastructure is not a lack of human expertise but rather the insufficient funds allocated to the Uganda National Roads Authority.

“The main issue with Kampala’s roads isn’t the availability of human resources. We have well-paid engineers in KCCA, and contractors are ready to work if the resources are provided. Our concern is why the government has failed to allocate funds for road and drainage construction in the city,” Kawalya emphasized.

Allan Ssewanyana, the MP for Makindye West, accused the government of neglecting the pressing matters of road and drainage improvement in Kampala, despite the city being a major contributor to the national tax base. He stressed that Kampala residents pay substantial taxes and expect better road infrastructure in return.

“As leaders, we cannot stand by and witness the deteriorating state of Kampala, especially concerning drainage and roads. Our ‘roads’ are hardly worthy of the name. If you look at the potholes in Kampala, they cover nearly 9,440 square kilometers, meaning nearly 90% of the city’s roads have potholes. People are spending a lot on car repairs due to these potholes,” Ssewanyana asserted.

It’s worth noting that in August 2023, Parliament approved two loan facilities totaling Shs2.2 trillion from the World Bank and the French government for road construction projects in Metropolitan Kampala. However, the challenges of potholes and flooding persist in the city despite these approvals.