Districts are in a last-minute rush to utilise the funds allocated to them in this year’s budget for roads.
The law requires that they return the unused funds to the treasury after June. But district leaders say the delay in dispatching the funds has left them with no option, but to execute last minute work.
Namutumba chief administrative officer (CAO) George William Wopuwa said they had put contractors under pressure to complete their tasks by June.
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), which received sh13b from the National Road Fund for city roads, is also in a rush to use the money.
An official in KCCA’s engineering and works directorate told Saturday Vision that of the sh13b, they had spent about sh7.5b.
The official said the city authority was working on roads in Nakasero, Lumumba Avenue, Buganda Road, Mutungo and Namungoona before the end of June.
Repairs started last month and they have hired more engineers so as to beat the deadline.
In Wakiso district, the CAO, David Naluwayiro, said when they complained to Premier Amama Mbabazi about the late release of the money, he promised to table the proposal before the Cabinet. Last year, Wakiso returned sh84m to the treasury at the end of the financial year.
Mukono district CAO Luke Lokuda, said they had devised a way of working with contractors on projects and paying them later. They are still waiting for sh150m for this quarter.
Buyende district CAO David Kyeyago doubted whether they would return any money because they had running projects.
Uganda National Roads Authority, which is mandated to work on highways, said they were not suffering any delays in receiving funds.
The authority’s spokesperson, Dan Alinange, said they received their funds on time and had asked Govern-ment for an additional sh150b to settle the existing bills.
By Brian Mayanja and John Semakula, The New Vision