By:Abitegeka Gerald
Kampala
The Member of Parliament for Buyaga East Constituency in Kagadi District, Hon. Twesige Stephen, has urged the government to strengthen quality control on road construction projects and adopt a fairer formula for allocating road maintenance funds to districts.
Speaking during the parliamentary debate on the President’s State of the Nation Address on Wednesday, Hon. Twesige expressed his support for the motion and commended President Yoweri Museveni for what he described as an accurate assessment of Uganda’s challenges and practical solutions to address them.
“I rise to support the motion and wish to add my voice in thanking the President for his proper diagnosis of our country’s challenges and the right prescription of medicine to those challenges,” Hon. Twesige told Parliament. He also applauded the President for his lifelong service to Uganda, saying it was well reflected in the State of the Nation Address.
Turning to infrastructure, the Buyaga East legislator praised the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government for expanding the country’s road network, particularly roads connecting border points. However, he raised concern over the quality of some newly completed roads, saying several are deteriorating shortly after being handed over by contractors.
He cited the recently completed Hoima–Kavuoya road as an example, noting that it has already developed potholes despite being newly commissioned. He also referred to another recently commissioned road in eastern Uganda that has begun showing signs of damage.
Hon. Twesige called for stricter supervision of contractors to ensure value for money and durable infrastructure that serves Ugandans for many years.
The legislator also echoed the President’s call for Parliament to examine the funding allocated to districts for road maintenance. He argued that the current system, under which districts receive similar allocations regardless of their size, is unfair.
He proposed that government adopt a more equitable funding formula based on objective factors such as the geographical size of a district and the extent of its road network.
“Some districts are very large, yet they receive the same amount of money as much smaller districts,” he observed, adding that government services should be distributed according to measurable needs rather than applying a uniform approach.
Hon. Twesige compared the issue to concerns previously raised about the Parish Development Model (PDM), where leaders have advocated for resource allocation that reflects local realities.
His remarks added to the ongoing parliamentary discussion on improving public infrastructure, enhancing accountability in government projects, and ensuring equitable distribution of public resources across the country.
The News Editor ,Reporter at Kagadi Kibaale community Radio
