Recently, in the capital city of Kampala, Uganda, the mayor personally inspected drainage facilities contracted by a Chinese company and denounced them as shoddy work, demanding their demolition and reconstruction. The incident, captured on video, has sparked heated discussions online.
On September 19, Ronald Nsubuga Balimwezo, the mayor of Kampala and a civil engineer by profession, visited the construction site on Salama Road to inspect the drainage facilities. He raised concerns on-site, questioning the quality of certain drainage projects that did not meet construction standards and instructed the contractor to demolish and rebuild them.
In the video footage, Mayor Balimwezo found that the concrete surrounding the drainage ditch could be easily dug by hand. He directly criticized a Chinese consultant from the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) present at the site. He demanded answers about the quality of the work, comparing it to standards in China.
Expressing his frustration, Mayor Balimwezo pointed out that the temporary measures taken due to the rainy season were unacceptable. He emphasized that poor construction quality could lead to disastrous consequences during heavy rainfall, highlighting the dangers of inadequate drainage systems.
Mayor Balimwezo passionately stated that the substandard work was equivalent to using subpar materials and shortcuts, insisting on a complete reconstruction by the contractor. The videos of his inspection and comments quickly circulated on Chinese social media, triggering diverse discussions among netizens criticizing the Communist Party and the quality of Chinese projects.
Mayor Balimwezo, with a background in civil engineering and a Master’s thesis on comparing local and foreign construction companies in Ugandan aid-funded road projects, has been vocal about the importance of quality infrastructure. Reports from the local media, Nile Post, indicated that following his intervention, the Chinese contractor dismantled the disputed structures and carried out improvements to meet the required standards.
The rectification of the project after Mayor Balimwezo’s intervention resolved the previous issues, ensuring proper drainage and preventing road damage due to poor construction practices. He stressed the critical role of effective drainage systems in preventing waterlogging and safeguarding residents in the vicinity.
According to information from the Kampala City government, the 8.1-kilometer Salama Road is part of the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB). The construction contractor responsible for the project is China Railway 18th Bureau Group, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC).
The actions taken by Mayor Balimwezo highlight the significance of ensuring infrastructure quality and safety in development projects to promote sustainable urban growth and protect communities from potential hazards.