The Uganda National Roads Authority says the damage caused to the roads during last week's riots will cost tax payers millions of shillings in repairs.
During the pro-Kabaka riots gangs of protestors burned tyres and piles of wood in the middle of the roads. The police and army raced around Kampala trying to put out the fires which would then be re-started as soon as they left.
Dan Alinange, corporate communications manager of the Roads Authority, says that wherever the fires were lit, the asphalt on the roads melted. He says this weakened the top layer of the roads and could lead to large potholes and cracks if not repaired soon.
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Some of the worst affected roads were the Northern Bypass, Gayaza Road, the Masaka-Kampala Road and the Jinja-Kampala Road.
Alinange says roads are property of the government and it is a criminal offense to willfully damage them. He says every Ugandan is a custodian of roads and they should report any one who was seen deliberately destroying them.
During the riots, the Police arrested over 600 people for participating in the civil unrest. About 200 of them have been charged in court with unlawful assembly, rioting and inciting violence.
David Kamukama, a resident of Kirekka, says some people in his area went as far as digging up recently repaired roads. Others heaped soils and garbage on the roads.
