VANESSA A
Residents of Rukungiri Municipality are set to benefit from major urban development projects after the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme under the World Bank, through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, earmarked more than Shs15 billion for the construction of a modern lorry park and leisure park.
The projects will be established on a five-acre piece of land within Rukungiri Municipality and are expected to commence in the 2026/2027 financial year beginning in July.
Speaking during a workshop held at the municipal headquarters, Rukungiri Municipality Mayor Charles Makuru said preparations for the projects are already underway, with the municipality prioritizing the design process using in-house resources before the actual construction begins.
Makuru explained that by the end of July, the municipality expects to complete the design and data collection process and hand over tender documents for procurement approval. He noted that the projects are aimed at improving urban infrastructure and positioning Rukungiri Municipality among the country’s well-developed urban centres.
He commended the central government and the World Bank for supporting the municipality through the USMID programme, saying the funding will significantly transform the area.
The mayor further revealed that the planned lorry park and leisure park are expected to generate revenue for the municipality once operational. He added that lorry and tipper drivers have already been sensitized about the planned parking facility and are willing to comply with the new arrangements.
Representing the Town Clerk, JohnBosco Twesigomwe, who is also the USMID focal person in Rukungiri Municipality, said the municipality will receive a total of Shs17 billion under the programme, with Shs15 billion specifically allocated to infrastructure development.
Twesigomwe noted that officials from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, including architects, have already been deployed to support the municipality in designing the projects according to the proposed plans for the lorry park and leisure park.
He added that the projects are expected to boost urban development and improve service delivery within Rukungiri Municipality once implementation begins in the new financial year.
