President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned multibillion Komatsu road construction and maintenance equipment for all the 121 local governments in the country.
The equipment which included motor graders, wheel loaders, vibro rollers among others were purchased from Komatsu, Japan.
They were commissioned on Friday morning at an event held at Spedag Interfreight Warehouse, Buto Yard in Bweyogerere, Wakiso District.
The equipment, according to Museveni, is meant to eliminate road tendors at District level which he said are always meant to benefit money makers and not the country.
“No more road tenders since government now has full fleet earth moving equipment for all districts,” said Museveni.
“The whole country is in a procurement chaos and many resources are wasted in procurement claims. The process is always meant to benefit money makers not country,” he added.
Road construction in the country has faced a number of challenges most of which stem from the procurement process and award of tendors.
The challenges affect both main roads under the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and local government road construction.
Both UNRA and Districts will benefit from the equipment.
On buying from one company, Museveni said procuring equipment from one source ensures quality, uniformity and maintenance is easy.
According to Works Minister, Monica Ntege Azuba, each district will get 1 motor grader, 1 wheel loader, 1 vibro roller 1 water browser and two dump trucks worth Shs 2.7billion.
The bulldozer valued at Shs 900million and excavator valued at Shs 850million will be based at the regional level including in all the three colonial zones of Mengo, Masaka and Mubende.
Equipment will also be given to UNRA, KCCA, UPDF, the Ministry force account units and Zonal centers.
The equipment was procured using a loan that was secured from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and counter-funding by the government of Uganda.
Azuba said each road equipment unit is fitted with KOMTRAX system to monitor fuel usage, engine operation and tracking its location in real time to curb abuse.
In his remarks, the Ambassador of Japan to Uganda H.E Kazuaki Kameda said the success of the equipment depends on maintenance and regular check-ups.
“My experiences show that a small number of machines have either broken down or have been abandoned because of no proper maintenance. Road construction equipment used under rough conditions requires an effective maintenance strategy,” he said.
Distribution of the earth moving equipment will start on Monday June 12 in central region with 35 districts.