Gen Katumba: Shs100bn Needed to Repair Damaged Infrastructure in Mbale

The Ministry of Works and Transport needs Shs100 billion to restore infrastructure damaged by floods in Mbale.

This was revealed by the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, during Wednesday, August 10 plenary.

Gen Katumba said flooding is a challenge adding that they have made an assessment of what needs to be replaced in Mbale.

Over 20 people were killed in flash floods in the Mt. Elgon region with thousands others displaced.

The revelation followed presentation of a matter of national importance by Bughendera County MP, Hon. Moses Kiiza Acrobert, that five bridges on two rivers in Bundibugyo district were washed away by floods last week.

He said that this has affected service delivery as infrastructure has been damaged.

According to Kiiza, the sub-counties of Ngite, Harugale, Buganikire, and Ndugutu are some of the most affected areas.

He further added that people needed to urgently be rescued as mothers going to the hospital have been cut off.

“The patients in these areas I have mentioned can no longer reach the hospital on time. I pray that the Ministries of Works and Disaster send a technical team to assess the impact of this disaster. Ministry of Works and Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) should urgently rehabilitate this bridge and government should consider giving tree seedlings to the highland areas,” he said.

Katumba said a technical team will be sent to assess the damage in Bundibugyo.

The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, asked the minister to consider sending a team of experts to Bukedea which was also affected by the floods leaving the roads in a bad state.