Uganda National Roads Authority

Ugandan government agency

Allen Kagina^[3],
Executive director

Parent agencyUganda Ministry of Transport And WorksWebsitewww.unra.go.ug

The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) is a government agency mandated to develop and maintain the national roads network, advise the government on general roads policy, contribute to the addressing of national transport concerns, and perform certain other functions.^[4] UNRA is charged with, among other things, the selection of contractors, the supervision of construction, the scheduling of maintenance, and the prioritization of national road works.^[5]

Headquarters

The headquarters of UNRA are located in the UAP Nakawa Business Park, at 3-5 New Port Bell Road, in the Nakawa Division of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.^[6] The geographical coordinates of UNRA's headquarters are:0°19'40.0"N, 32°36'46.0"E (Longitude:0.327778; Latitude:32.612778).^[7]

Overview

UNRA was established in 2006 by parliamentary enactment of the Uganda National Roads Authority Act.^[4] UNRA became fully operational on 1 July 2008.^[4]

UNRA is governed by a nine-member board of directors, chaired by Angela Kanyima Kiryabwire. The first Chairman of the Board of Directors was Mr. Chris Kassami who spearheaded the process of setting up the original UNRA management structures. The pioneer Executive Director was Eng. Peter Ssebanakitta who was appointed to the post on 1 November 2007 and set upon working with the Board to recruit staff into the UNRA structures. UNRA became operational on 1 July 2008 with about 80% of the established posts filled. Eng. Ssebanakitta served as Executive Director up to 3 March 2013 when he resigned for personal reasons. He was succeeded in acting capacity by Engineer Ssebbugga Kimeze who was subsequently replaced by Eng. James Okiror when he was suspended following the botched procurement of a contractor for the Mukono–Kyetume–Katosi–Nyenga Road. The current executive director is Allen Kagina who replaced Engineer Okiror in May 2014.^[8] She replaced acting executive director James Okiror.^[9]

Completed projects

During the first five years of the agency, the road network increased from 10,800 kilometres (6,700 mi) to 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi).^[10]

According to a published report in July 2015, 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) (19 percent) of the 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi) national road network was paved.^[11] A total of 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) of roads were improved from gravel to bituminous surface between 2005 and 2010.^[12] A total of 5,000 kilometres (3,107 mi) of roads are earmarked for tarmacking before December 2016.^[13]

Some of the roads that have been completed since 2008 include:

Kabale–Kisoro–Bunagana Road (completed in 2012)^[10]^[14]^[15]
Fort Portal–Bundibugyo–Lamia Road (completed in March 2014)^[16]
Gayaza-Ziroobwe Road^[10]^[17]
Matugga-Kapeeka Road^[10]
Soroti–Dokolo–Lira Road (completed in 2010)^[18]
Jinja–Bugiri Road (completed in 2010)^[19]^[20]
Kampala–Mityana Road (completed in July 2012)^[21]
Masaka–Mbarara Road^[22]
Lira–Kamdini–Karuma Road (completed in August 2011)^[23]
Kazo–Ibanda–Kamwenge Road (completed in March 2014)^[24]^[25]
Nyakahita–Kazo Road (completed in February 2014)^[26]

Ongoing construction projects

As of October 2017, the following major construction projects under UNRA's supervision were ongoing.

Upcoming projects

As of June 2015, UNRA listed the following major construction projects as upcoming:

Re-organization

As part of a re-organization and re-structuring effort, Allen Kagina, the executive director, fired all the remaining 866 company staff and re-advertised all staff positions.^[45] The terminations were in addition to 80 managers fired in June 2015,^[46] and another 58 staff laid off in September 2015 when the procurement and weighbridge departments were outsourced.^[47]^[48] In January 2016, media reports indicated that the total staff allocation for the organization had been increased to 1,740.^[49]

Governance

In March 2017, new board of directors was named to serve for three years. The members of the current board are:^[50]

Fred Omach: Chairman
Allen Kagina: Executive Director
Sam Bagonza: Member
Umar Bagampadde: Member
Joseph Muvawala: Member
Laban Mbulamuko: Member
Petra Sansa Tenywa: Member.

References

^ Wesonga, Nelson (23 September 2016). "UNRA wants more 450 employees". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
^ Mwesigwa, Alon (8 April 2015). "Budget: gvt will not take on new road projects". The Observer (Uganda). Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ Lumu, David (27 April 2015). "Kagina is new executive director of UNRA". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c Rwanyekiro, Isaiah (16 July 2014). "Uganda connected border-to-border by tarmac". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ UNRA (6 July 2015). "About UNRA: Road Network". Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). Retrieved 6 July 2015.
^ "Uganda National Roads Authority: Contact Us". Kampala: Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). 30 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
^ Google (30 October 2017). "Location of the headquarters of Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
^ Bwire, Nelson (27 April 2015). "Allen Kagina to head UNRA". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
^ Paul Tajuba, and Frederic Musisi (30 August 2014). "Board suspends UNRA managers". Kampala. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Muleme, Geoffrey (11 September 2013). "UNRA Undertakes Road Development Project In Uganda". AfricanReview.com. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
^ Bwambale, Taddeo (30 June 2015). "UNRA reviews contractors, donors warn against personalities". New Vision. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ "1,500km of roads tarmacked in past five years". New Vision. Kampala. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
^ EAAB (1 January 2015). "UNRA paves 1200km roads; 5,000km for tarmacking by 2016". East Africa Agribusiness (EAAB). Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
^ Balagadde, Samuel (7 October 2012). "Kabale-Kisoro road upgraded". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
^ UNRA (2015). "KABALE-KISORO-BUNAGANA ROAD (100KM)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ UNRA (1 July 2015). "Fort Portal – Bundibugyo-Lamia (Funded by AfDB/GOU)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ UNRA (2015). "Kampala-Gayaza-Zirobwe (44Km)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ UNRA (2015). "Soroti-Dokolo – Lira Road (123km)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ UNRA (2015). "Jinja-Bugiri Road (72KM)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ Solomon Muyita, and Fredrick Sooma (11 January 2010). "Jinja-Bugiri road opens after five years of waiting". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
^ UNRA (2015). "Busega-Mityana road (57Km)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ UNRA (2015). "Masaka-Mbarara road (154.2km)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ UNRA (2015). "Lira – Kamdini - Karuma". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ UNRA (2015). "Kazo – Kamwenge (Funded by AfDB/GOU)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ UNRA (2015). "Kazo-Kamwenge Road (75km)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ UNRA (2015). "Nyakahita-Kazo (Funded by AfDB/GOU)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h UNRA. "ongoing major projects". Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ Apiliga, Francis (1 June 2011). "UNRA gets US $100 Million for Gulu-Nimule road". Uganda Radio Network. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
^ Sekanjako, Henry (25 July 2012). "Delayed Tororo-Mbale-Soroti road to cost more money". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
^ ^a ^b EAAB (5 June 2014). "INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT BOOSTING THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR". East Africa Agribusiness (EAAB). Retrieved 28 June 2015.
^ Nahamya, Joshua (1 March 2015). "Mbarara Bypass Construction Underway". Chimpreports.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
^ Anguyo, Innocent (13 May 2014). "Portuguese firm awarded sh200b Northern Bypass contract". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
^ Maseruka, Josephine (2013). "Corruption cited in Mbarara-Katuna road reconstruction". New Vision Mobile. Kampala. Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
^ Malaba, Tom (30 January 2014). "UNRA to Compensate People Affected by Entebbe Expressway Next month". Uganda Radio Network (URN). Retrieved 19 June 2014.
^ UNRA (2015). "Major Bridges under construction". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ Kasozi, Ephraim (15 January 2015). "UNRA gives new Katosi deal to SBI". Daily Monitor Mobile. Kampala. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
^ Vision, Reporter (11 August 2011). "Hoima-Kaiso Tonya road works start". New Vision. Kampala. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
^ Otage, Stephen (28 April 2014). "Hoima-Tonya road to be ready by July". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
^ Arinaitwe, Solomon (7 May 2014). "Works ministry needs Shs130 billion for road projects in Bunyoro". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
^ Musisi, Frederic (30 December 2016). "Kampala-Mpigi Expressway project kicks off in 2018". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
^ UNRA. "Kigumba-Masindi-Hoima-Bulima-Kabwoya (Funded by AfDB/GOU)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ Rwothungeyo, Billy (2012). "Hoima-Butiaba-Wanseko road for upgrade". New Vision Mobile. Kampala. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
^ UNRA. "Rukungiri-Kihihi-Ishasha-Kambuga/Kihihi-Kanungu-Kambuga (Funded by AfDB/GOU)". Uganda National Roads Authority. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ Kagenda, Patrick (15 June 2015). "Uganda: AfDB Gives Uganda U.S. $109 Million for Roads". The Independent (Uganda) via AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
^ Kasozi, Ephraim (29 September 2015). "UNRA sacks all employees". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
^ Musisi, Frederic (23 June 2015). "Kagina fires 80 UNRA staff". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
^ Ahimbisibwe, Patience (16 September 2015). "Kagina lays off 50 more UNRA staff". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
^ Namutebi, Joyce (16 July 2015). "MPs query UNRA top managers' sacking". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
^ Wesonga, Nelson (29 January 2016). "EU queries planned UNRA 1,740 recruitment". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
^ Mafabi, David (15 March 2017). "Ex-minister Omach to head UNRA board". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 25 March 2019.