68% OF CHAIN LINK FENCE VANDALISED, UNRA TO INSTALL LIGHTS
The government has lost Shs58.85bn in vandalism of road furniture at the Kampala – Entebbe expressway in a space of one year. The revelation was made by Uganda National Roads Authority- UNRA officials while appearing before the parliamentary committee on physical infrastructure.
Vandals have vandalized 30,588.68 meters of chain link fence. However, Legislators are concerned with fewer efforts taken by UNRA to curb the vice.
During their interface with the committee of physical Infrastructure over vandalism of road furniture on the Kampala – Entebbe Expressway, officials of the ministry of works decried the worrying trend of vandalism on the Expressway. In a space of one year, a total of 30,588.68 meters of Chain Link has been vandalized out of the 44,386 meters of the fence.
Increased vandalism is attributed to the rampant market of metal scrap that is being used as raw materials for steel products. According to UNRA, the cost to repair the vandalized road furniture amounts to 58.85bn. UNRA unveiled plans to replace 7.5km of the chain link which was vandalized before EGIS Road Operation took chard of the Kampala Entebbe Expressway. The contractor will replace vandalized furniture since he took charge of the road.
However, members of the committee on physical Infrastructure are not convinced about action taken against vandals. Some cited gaps in security presence on the road and the absence of a lighting system.
Legislators also tasked UNRA to carry out corporate social responsibility programs for communities around Entebbe expressway in order to bond the community with the road.
The Uganda National Roads Authority now planning to use materials that are not attractive to vandals including the use of concrete for the fence of the expressway.
UNRA has also committed to installing a lighting system on the Entebbe Expressway before the end of March 2023 plus Cameras as a measure to motivate vandalism of road furniture.
