In a bid to alleviate the ongoing traffic congestion during peak hours, the Prime Minister of Uganda, Robinah Nabbanja, has instructed all road contractors in Kampala to begin working at night.
The decision, aims at accelerating the pace of road construction and reducing disruptions during daytime, was announced during a meeting with contractors on April 1, 2025.
The meeting, held at the Office of the Prime Minister, was convened to address concerns about delays in the city’s infrastructure projects.
Prime Minister Nabbanja expressed frustration over the contractors’ failure to meet agreed-upon timelines, highlighting that these delays were causing significant inconvenience to residents and businesses.
This directive follows a recent inspection by the Prime Minister of key roads under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Urban Development project.
She was joined by several high-ranking officials, including State Minister for Works and Transport, Eng. Musa Echweru, Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs Minsa Kabanda, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Sharifa Buzeki, and engineers from KCCA and the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Among the roads inspected were the busy Salama-Munyonyo road and Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road, which Nabbanja noted were progressing at an alarmingly slow pace.
“I have directed as the head of government business that you work at night even on Sundays,” she noted.
“Have enough staff and employ enough machinery,” she added.
The Prime Minister who was furious, emphasized the importance of efficient work, stating that delays were detrimental to the country’s development efforts.
“You make our people waste a lot of time in jam, it is in?” she questioned.
The order was prompted by complaints from Minister Kabanda, who highlighted the disruption caused by construction activities during daytime hours.
Several contractors also explained that some work had been delayed due to disputes with residents over compensation.
However, Nabbanja made it clear that residents who disagree with government valuations should seek redress through the court system, rather than allowing these disputes to hold up progress.
She instructed that if the project affected persons refuse the compensation set by the Government Valuer, the funds should be deposited in court, and they can file their complaints while work continues. “That is the procedure, work cannot be halted because of that.”
The Prime Minister further urged the Ministry of Kampala, KCCA, and the Ministry of Works and Transport to hold regular meetings with contractors to ensure close supervision of the projects.
“Now you are going to change the mode of supervision. I want our engineers on those roads. If you can sacrifice a few hours to supervise what is happening,” she added.
Nabbanja also emphasized that contractors must prioritize the safety of pedestrians during construction.
She directed that proper walkway be integrated into all roadworks, to ensure that pedestrians are also safe.
This move is seen as a critical step toward meeting the growing demand for improved infrastructure in Kampala.
