The construction of the six major roads in Rakai town council has hit a snag due lack of funds.
In the 2010/2011 financial year budget, Rakai town approved shillings 350 million budget to construct six roads. They are Rakai central, Kooki and Circular, Kituntu, Kayooki and Katamba roads. Emmanuel Mugamba, the engineer Rakai Town council says their plan was to upgrade five roads and replace the tarmac on Rakai central road.
He says that the affected roads have developed huge potholes which affect the flow of traffic in the town council. However, Mugamba says that the proposed road works have hit a snag of the failure by central government to release the required funds. He explains that through the road fund, government only released shillings 70 million that was used to gravel Anderson road.
Prima Ndeka, the Rakai Town Council LC3 Chairperson says they need about 500milion shillings to gravel the planned road projects. Ndeka says they would improvise by using local revenue but then even the local revenue is not forthcoming. He says that they are now waiting for the next financial year to see if Government will send them money to kick the road works.
According to Ndeka, the lack of funds has affected almost every department including education where the town council has failed to raise 10milion to construct toilet facilities at Kagologolo primary school and Edwin primary school.
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Musa Mulekwa, a taxi driver in Rakai accuses government of wasting money on useless ventures like buying fighter jets instead of construction roads. Mulekwa, who plies Rakai-Kyotera road, says despite the fact that government collects various taxes from vehicles it has failed to work on key areas.
