Mukono District Local Government on Tuesday, officially launched the Road Gangs Programme, a community-based road maintenance initiative aimed at improving access roads while creating employment and income-generating opportunities for residents.
The programme was launched during an engagement organized by the District Works and Engineering Department, bringing together road gang members, district leaders, and technical officers to discuss implementation strategies and expectations.
Speaking at the launch on behalf of the Chief Administrative Officer, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Stephen Muhumuza welcomed participants from various parts of Mukono District and commended them for their contribution to national development through agriculture, trade, and other economic activities.
Mr. Muhumuza emphasized that maintaining road infrastructure is a key component of government service delivery because roads facilitate movement, trade, and access to essential services. He explained that the Road Gangs Programme was introduced to enable residents to directly participate in maintaining community roads while earning income from their work.
He encouraged residents to take advantage of employment opportunities within their own communities instead of travelling long distances in search of jobs. He also warned beneficiaries against subcontracting the work to others for unfair wages, noting that the programme was specifically designed to benefit local communities.
The Deputy CAO revealed that government has allocated approximately Shs230 million to support the Road Gangs Programme in Mukono District. He reminded participants that road maintenance was traditionally carried out through voluntary communal efforts, but government has now introduced financial incentives to motivate residents while improving road safety and reducing accidents caused by poor road conditions.
District Engineer Eng. Herbert Lutwama explained that the meeting was intended to strengthen collaboration between district leaders and road gang members while providing guidance on their duties and responsibilities.
He highlighted key maintenance activities expected of road gang members, including clearing drainage channels, directing water away from roads, slashing grass, maintaining road reserves, and ensuring roads remain passable using simple tools such as hoes and slashers.
Eng. Lutwama clarified that funds allocated to the programme are separate from the Parish Development Model (PDM) and are solely intended to support workers engaged in road maintenance activities.
According to the District Engineer, a worker responsible for maintaining one kilometre of road will earn Shs75,000, while those maintaining four kilometres can earn up to Shs300,000 depending on the assigned workload.
The Secretary for Works, Water, Environment, Natural Resources and Production and Kimenyedde Woman District Councillor, Hon. Winnie Nakaddu, urged road gang members to demonstrate discipline, honesty, commitment, and hard work throughout the programme implementation period.
She emphasized a policy of zero corruption and maximum accountability, warning participants against misusing funds allocated for road maintenance activities.
Hon. Nakaddu commended Eng. Herbert Lutwama and the Works Department for their dedication to improving road infrastructure across Mukono District. She called for all resources allocated to road maintenance to be utilized for their intended purpose to ensure value for money and improved service delivery.
Meanwhile, District Finance Officer Mr. Yasin Mwanga addressed concerns regarding delayed payments to some workers. He explained that in several cases, payments had been returned by banks due to inactive or incorrect account details provided by beneficiaries.
To address the challenge, Mr. Mwanga revealed that the district is considering the use of mobile payment systems in future phases of the programme. However, he noted that the current phase will continue using bank accounts and urged beneficiaries to verify and update their banking information to avoid delays.
During the interactive session, road gang members raised concerns regarding the choice of banks, delayed payments, and the possibility of receiving funds through existing personal accounts. District officials assured participants that the concerns would be addressed and pledged continued engagement to ensure transparency and smooth programme implementation.
The Road Gangs Programme forms part of Mukono District’s broader strategy to strengthen rural road maintenance, improve accessibility, enhance road safety, and support community livelihoods through labour-based public works initiatives.
The launch of the Road Gangs Programme demonstrates Mukono District’s commitment to improving rural road infrastructure while creating employment opportunities for local communities. District leaders emphasized the importance of accountability, hard work, and proper utilization of public funds to ensure the programme achieves its intended objectives. With government support, active community participation, and effective supervision, the initiative is expected to enhance road connectivity, boost local economic activities, and improve the livelihoods of residents across Mukono District.
