President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has given the green light for the construction of a flyover along the Kampala-Jinja Highway at Nama Sub County in Mukono District.
This development is intended to improve the safety of thousands of workers who risk their lives daily while crossing the busy highway to access factories at Mbalala Industrial Park.
The decision came after a passionate appeal from former State Minister for Water Resources Ronald Kibuule during the president’s recent tour of the Greater Mukono sub region.
Speaking at Global Paper playground in Mbalala, where the president met with industrial workers, Kibuule conveyed their concerns about the dangers they face due to the narrow and heavily trafficked road.
“Your Excellency, the bazukulu have asked me to inform you that the road is too narrow for them to compete with heavy and speeding vehicles. Several of their colleagues have been knocked down and others left injured, especially while crossing the road,” Kibuule said.
The stretch of road between Mbalala Trading Centre and Namawojjolo has become a high-risk zone for pedestrians, particularly the casual laborers who form the majority of the over 23000 workers employed in the area.
Many of these workers walk to and from the factories because they cannot afford transportation and are not eligible for the buses provided by some companies.
Transport services are mostly reserved for workers with formal employment contracts.
John Ssemuwemba, a worker in one of the factories, described the situation as distressing.
“It is painful to see someone who left home early in the morning to work for their family die in an accident. What is even worse is that many families receive no compensation,” he said.
He also noted that the road becomes even more dangerous during the rainy season.
In response, President Museveni instructed the Ministry of Works and Transport to urgently begin work on the flyover and to upgrade the entire section of the road that passes through Mbalala.
He also approved the installation of security lights to make it safer for those who travel during early morning and night hours.
“We are going to ensure this section of the road is improved and made safer for our workers. Installing lights and constructing a flyover will reduce these avoidable accidents,” the president said.
Local leaders and factory workers have welcomed the move, saying it will reduce accidents and restore dignity for workers who contribute significantly to the national economy.
The decision highlights the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure around key industrial zones and prioritizing the safety and welfare of Ugandan workers as the country continues to push for industrial growth and economic transformation.
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