KCCA cracks down on cheap materials — Buzeki orders culvert removals as city ups revenue drive
Kampala’s city manager has put contractors on notice: substandard culverts and shoddy road materials will be ripped out — and KCCA is backing that push with a new vehicles fleet to boost revenue collection and service delivery across the city.
Kampala,Uganda
Hajjat Sharifa Buzeki, the KCCA Executive Director, has directed the immediate removal of culverts flagged as substandard on several road projects, saying quality failures threaten both the lifespan of works and public safety. She stressed zero tolerance for inferior materials and ordered re-inspection of ongoing contracts. Contractors have been warned to rectify defects or face sanctions.
The move comes as KCCA launches a parallel effort to strengthen revenue mobilisation — deploying a new fleet of vehicles intended to improve tax/fee collection, enhance field inspections and speed up service delivery in waste management, drainage clearance and road maintenance. KCCA frames the investments as necessary to secure funds for sustained urban upgrades.
Local reactions are mixed: civil society groups welcome the quality clampdown but call for transparent procurement oversight, while small contractors warn of cashflow pain if they must suddenly replace materials. Urban commuters hope the steps will finally reduce the endless cycle of patch-and-repair jobs across Kampala’s streets.
Why it matters: Better materials + more efficient revenue collection = fewer repeated works, fewer midday sinkholes and, eventually, less traffic pain. The short pain (roadworks, enforcement) may pay off if KCCA holds contractors accountable and uses new revenue for durable infrastructure.
