KIRA, UGANDA — The Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, Hon. Alum Santa Sandra Ogwang (MP), has issued a stern warning to local leaders and contractors implementing the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP), citing systemic delays and a failure to secure the full project right of way.
Speaking during a follow-up monitoring exercise in Kira Municipal Council on October 8, 2026, the Minister revealed that while the USD 600 million (approx. Shs2.3 trillion) World Bank and AFD-funded initiative is critical to Uganda’s urban transformation, persistent operational bottlenecks are threatening its success.
“Our previous assessment revealed critical challenges, most notably the failure to secure the full right of way and widespread delays to project schedules. These issues appeared to be systemic across several of the implementing entities visited to date,” Hon. Alum stated.
The Minister’s remarks come on the heels of a Programme Performance Report for the 2025/26 financial year, which showed that Kira Municipal Council was making good progress on road construction. However, specific lots—including the Mbogo (7.6Km)–Cyprian Kizito (9Km) and Kungu–Bivanjo (2.3Km) roads—have recorded a 2.3% delay. The roads currently sit at 77.9% actual progress against a planned 80.2%.
Launched in the 2023/24 financial year, the five-year GKMA-UDP is built on four foundational pillars: mobility and accessibility, resilience and environment, job creation, and institutional strengthening. The programme aims to improve urban liveability, create jobs for youth and women, and enhance service delivery across the metropolitan area.
To address the current bottlenecks, the Minister outlined eight specific demands for the Council and its contractors. Among the key questions, she demanded to know the current cumulative fund absorption rate, the status of the right of way, and the specific “catch-up” plans the contractor has developed to remedy the delays. She also called for an assessment of the project's socioeconomic effects and the number of people employed cumulatively.
Hon. Alum directed the Town Clerk to immediately provide her technical team with written reports addressing these concerns.
“Going forward, we will continue to track fund disbursements and adherence to work schedules to ensure that the objectives of the GKMA-UDP—particularly job creation, improved mobility, and environmental sustainability—are fully realised for the benefit of all Ugandans,” she affirmed.
The Minister’s visit underscores the government's heightened oversight under the National Development Plan (NDP IV), ensuring that public funds and international development support are implemented efficiently and accountably.
