Concerns have emerged over delays in the upgrade of the Kabale–Lake Bunyonyi Tourism Road after the contractor, Samcrete Egypt Engineers and Contractors, suspended construction works in late May 2026 without explanation, prompting calls for urgent government intervention.
The project, which involves upgrading the 8.4-kilometre road connecting Kabale Town to Lake Bunyonyi to bitumen standard, has been partially implemented but is now at a standstill, affecting transport, business operations, and tourism activities in Kabale District. Kabale District leaders have since petitioned the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Office of the President, seeking immediate action to resume works on the key tourism route.
Retired Major Godfrey Katamba, the Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC), said district authorities launched investigations following the contractor’s abrupt exit from the site without formal communication. Katamba said findings indicate that Samcrete Egypt Engineers and Contractors subcontracted part of the works to Sarick Construction Limited.
He further noted that the contractor attributed the suspension of works to delays in relocation of utilities by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (National Water and Sewerage Corporation) and the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited).However, Katamba dismissed the explanation, arguing that the contractor’s withdrawal demonstrated incompetence, especially after the government had already disbursed 15 percent of the contract sum, equivalent to Shs16 billion, to facilitate commencement of works.
Katamba said leaders have collectively petitioned the Ministry of Works and Transport to ensure that construction resumes, adding that sections of the road that were not affected by utility relocation could have continued under construction. He also questioned why the contractor withdrew equipment and manpower from the Nyarusiza–Mgahinga Road project in Kisoro District.Katamba added that tourism activity around Lake Bunyonyi has declined significantly, with bookings dropping by nearly 50 percent due to the poor state of the road, affecting district tourism revenues.
Kabale District Woman Member of Parliament Enid Atuheire Origumisiriza said she has joined other leaders in petitioning the government over the contractor’s abrupt suspension of works, questioning how such a major project could be halted without formal communication to stakeholders.
Kabale District LCV Chairperson Denis Ndyomugyenyi Nzairwe said leaders in the Kigezi sub-region had welcomed President Yoweri Museveni’s commitment to tarmac tourism roads in the area, but expressed concern that progress on the project has fallen behind schedule. He said the contractor’s withdrawal has raised uncertainty over whether the road will be completed within the expected timeframe.
Brian Nicholas Okabaki, the Community Liaison Officer for Samcrete Egypt Engineers and Contractors, earlier confirmed that works had been temporarily suspended but declined to explain the reasons. Efforts to obtain a comment from the Ministry of Works and Transport were unsuccessful as the ministry’s Senior Communications Officer, Allan Ssempebwa Kyobe, did not respond to repeated calls.
The project is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and forms part of government efforts to improve tourism infrastructure in the Kigezi sub-region. Samcrete is also constructing the 13.4-kilometre Kisoro–Mgahinga Road, linking Kisoro Town to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
