Kampala Integrated Environmental Planning and Management Project (KIEMP), implemented by the Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) and Kampala City Council (KCC), embarked on the improvement of 2 km of roads in urban poor areas early 2009. Construction works were launched on 12th February 2009 in the presence of the Mayor of Kampala, the Kampala City Town Clerk, the Representative of the Ambassador of Belgium, the BTC Resident Representative, the LCIII Chairperson Central Division, the Deputy RDC Central Division, and many other highly esteemed guests. Local leaders and community members also turned up in large numbers.

Now, at the beginning of 2010, work at both Malinga Road and Kasato Road in Kisenyi II and Kayemba Road and Katwe-Mutebi Road in Katwe I is about to be completed. The roads have been improved to tarmac and chippings finishing respectively, but have they had a positive impact? We moved around and interviewed people alongside the road.

Kasato Road is bustling with activity. Cars, shared taxis, trucks and boda bodas whiz by. Shops and restaurants are competing for customers. Jackie, who works in one of the restaurants alongside the road tells us that with the road being upgraded, there are fewer accidents. And the amount of dust is now much less. Claude is the caretaker of one of the KIEMP public toilets, located alongside the improved road. He says that now that the works on the road have finished, more people are coming to use the toilet. It can be seen that he takes pride in keeping it nice and clean, and toilet paper and water is provided for anyone who wants to use the toilet.

Pineapple selling on Kasato Road

Further down the road, some houses were voluntarily demolished because they were located in the road reserve. Luckily for him, tenant Noureldin could stay, since his tenement was not in the way. For him, like Jackie, the biggest change is the now absence of dust. Mozes, selling pineapple from a wheelbarrow, is trying to lure potential customers. He enthusiastically admits that with the new road, moving around is now much easier.

Also for businessman Patrick, the upgraded road has eased transport. He used to have trouble hiring a lorry. Drivers did not want to come to Mengo-Kisenyi due to the muddy conditions. And when they came, they asked for a lot of money. Luckily, these problems have passed. But, he adds, it is important to keep the roadside drainages clean, to avoid flooding, which could damage the road. That is why he volunteers to move around in the community to sensitize them about these risks.

Drainages & walkways alongside Kayemba Road

Located alongside the Kayemba Road in Katwe, one of the street sellers tells us that rain splashing on her merchandise is now something from the past. But she had to make some adjustments after they chased her away. She has now set up her business over the drain, to minimize nuisance for the heavy traffic – large numbers of cars, trucks, pick ups, boda bodas, bicycles and pedestrians all attempt to move through. Hence one of her fellow vendors, although she praises the nice surface of the road, complains that it has become dangerous for her children to cross. She argues that humps should be put in place to slow down the traffic.

All along the road, business men and women tell us that they have either seen an increase in customers and profit; or they are expecting it soon. They commend the beauty of the road, the absence of dust, the easier access. Indeed, the roads have brought change for the community.

Pictures taken from the same place in Katwe I on 5^th March (left) and 11^th December 2009 (right)

– by Zulaika Nantume and Els Keunen