Delayed city road repairs leave muddy taste for Kampalans

Traffic and business activity along one of Kampala’s busy roads was disrupted for much of Thursday after a heavy downpour flooded a large pothole near Shell Capital, leaving motorists and pedestrians struggling to navigate the muddy section.

Shell Capital is a major taxi offloading point for passengers travelling along the Gayaza, Bombo and Kira routes. Several passengers were forced to wade through muddy water to board taxis, with some expressing concern about getting their clothes dirty.

Boda boda riders operating at Mabirizi Stage said the flooding is worsened by inadequate drainage in the area.

Sadat Kimera, a boda boda rider, said the area floods quickly whenever it rains and called on the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to urgently repair the pothole, which he said has remained unattended for more than two weeks, and address the drainage problem.

The riders said they have started collecting money among themselves to buy equipment to unblock drainage channels and improve the flow of stormwater.

Crispus Ndyabagye, another person working in the area, said flooding and mud have repeatedly disrupted businesses, including those operating in the nearby Mabirizi Building.

Ndyabagye said customers often hesitate to visit the building when the area is flooded and muddy, affecting businesses in the area.

According to KCCA customer service standards, potholes are supposed to be repaired within 72 hours. However, road users in Kampala continue to report potholes that remain unattended for weeks, with the defects becoming more disruptive during heavy rainfall.

Efforts to obtain a response from the KCCA spokesperson were unsuccessful, as calls to the official went unanswered by the time of publication.

The flooding comes as KCCA undertakes road infrastructure works across the city, including plans to upgrade the Bombo Road corridor between Bwaise and Wandegeya.

In a recent interview, KCCA director of engineering and technical services, Eng Justus Akankwasa, said the Bwaise-Wandegeya section of Bombo Road is planned for conversion into a dual carriageway.

Akankwasa said the contract had been awarded to Tecno 3 Contractors and that the project is intended to ease traffic congestion along the route.

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