Even Ministers Cry!! Top Museveni Ministers Threaten To Strike Over Kampala Potholes – Museveni Left Fuming

The outcry over Uganda’s deteriorating roads has intensified, reaching a point where ministers are contemplating a strike due to the prevalent potholes in the capital, Kampala. Concerns range from inquiries about the inflated budget for Kampala roads to the financial constraints faced by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in addressing road repairs.

Notably, the Special Forces Command (SFC) of the UPDF has stepped in, assuming road repair responsibilities with efficiency and cost-effectiveness, adding another layer to the ongoing debate on road conditions.

Weeks ago, Irish Ambassador to Uganda Kevin Colgan said potholes and wild bodaboda herds in Kampala were a tourist attraction.

“You don’t need to go outside of Kampala to see the great crater lakes. All you need to do is drive around Industrial Area and you will see all the lakes you need, from herds of game at Murchison Falls, to herds of boda’s on the streets of Kampala, there is a wildness to it all that we love dearly,” Colgan said during the St Andrew’s Ball 2023 in Kampala.

Even within the cabinet meetings presided over by President Yoweri Museveni, a deputy prime minister and a junior minister have joined the chorus of discontent about Kampala’s pothole-ridden roads. In a somewhat lighthearted manner, these ministers even teased the idea of going on strike, underscoring the severity of the issue and the frustration felt at the state of Kampala’s roads.

“I’m going on hunger strike next week coz of potholes, gullies, swimming pools, anthills, rivers and lakes etc on every road. Are the potholes in Kampala on promotion nowadays? Banange tugoingewa?” wrote Margaret Muhanga Mugisa, the minister of state for primary health care and Fort Portal City North Division MP.

Also Her senior Rebecca Kadaga, former Speaker of Parliament, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, invited Muhanga: “Come and join me in Makindye Division, the Headquarters of potholes and swimming pools.”

Kadaga is a long-serving district woman MP for Kamuli.Parliament’s spokesperson has voiced concerns about the trend of MPs and ministers expressing their grievances on social media. He highlighted the need for discussions on crucial matters to occur within the Cabinet rather than being aired publicly.

The spokesperson emphasized the importance of the government collectively addressing issues instead of individual officials lamenting on social platforms. This comes amidst observations that some officials seem to straddle both Cabinet discussions and social media commentary, prompting a call for a more focused and effective communication approach.

“But Social media will mess us up. Now even Cabinet Ministers type away on matters they should be discussing in Cabinet. Of what use is it to join helpless public in lamenting about poor roads? So that the public does what when they trusted you with power to make decisions collectively? After elections President Museveni formed a government; a government that must provide answers to the problems of the people,” He Wrote.

In a different context, months ago, Inspector General of Government (IGG) Beti Kamya suggested that Ugandans should demand better roads, acknowledging her detachment from the issue due to the comfort provided by her car.