Bitumen shortage threatens KCCA’s December roadworks deadline

What the report says

Kampala Capital City Authority’s plan to finish most of its ongoing roadworks by December 2026 is under pressure from a shortage of bitumen and delays in moving utility services, according to The Independent Uganda. The report says KCCA has made steady progress on several projects across Nakawa, Makindye, Kawempe and Lubaga, but contractors still need surfacing material and must complete finishing works such as walkways, lighting and road markings.

Project manager Patrick Batumbya, working with MBW Consultants for KCCA, said overall progress on the road programme is around 68% to 70%. He said the Central Business District may take longer because of service relocation challenges. The article also notes that some contractors have prepared roads for surfacing but are waiting for bitumen deliveries, which Batumbya linked in part to disruptions in international supply chains.

KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki inspected road sites in Kawempe and Kampala Central on Saturday to assess progress and outstanding problems. She warned contractors to keep sites clean and orderly and said fines could be imposed for poor site management. The report says Mukalazi Road is about 70% complete, Muganzirwaza Road about 35%, Nsamba Road about 70%, and Square One Road about 42%.

The article adds that drainage blockages, open manholes, right-of-way disputes and unrelocated utilities remain key risks. The works are part of broader city efforts to improve drainage, road safety and traffic flow in Kampala.