Examining the effectiveness of road infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance at Kampala capital city authority (KCCA).

Abstract

This study sought to examine the effectiveness of Road Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Maintenance at Kampala Capital City Authority. The study followed three objectives which included: (1) to assess the current status of road infrastructures in Kampala Capital City in terms of their condition and rate of deterioration, (2) to examine the factors affecting effective rehabilitation and maintenance of road infrastructures in Kampala Capital City and; (3) to identify the strategies to improve rehabilitation and maintenance of road infrastructures in Kampala Capital City. The study used a cross-sectional survey design and a mixed research approach. A sample of 70 respondents out of 75 target population was considered. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guides. The study revealed that most roads in Kampala had bowing road floors, cracks, potholes, lost road shape, blocked drainages and most of roads in the out shirts of Kampala were not tarmac which made them slippery mostly during rainy seasons and dusty in dry seasons. The study also revealed that rehabilitation and maintenance of roads in Kampala is affected by lack of enough funds, poor road maintenance culture at KCCA, poor road supervision & inspection and lack of prioritization. Besides that, despite road users being indiscipline, lack of communication between road users & KCCA and heavy rains that cause floods affect road rehabilitation and maintenance. It was also revealed that there is need for the central government to increase funding, enter into public private partnerships, enact strong internal controls, source for skilled manpower, as well as form strong supervision and monitoring teams. It was also revealed that sensitization of KCCA leadership and management on cultural change, prioritization of road infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance, sensitizing & educating the road users and setting up road supervision & inspection units in local communities will help in identifying road sections that need repair as early as possible.