WORLD BANK KICK-OFF INSPECTION OF USMID PROGRAM IN UGANDA

The World Bank has initiated a week-long inspection of projects funded under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program in five urban centers in the Eastern region of Uganda. The municipalities being inspected include Moroto, Mbale, Tororo, Busia, Kamuli, and Lugazi, where urban roads construction projects are underway as part of the USMID program.

The USMID program, which has been running for the past decade, aims to enhance living and working conditions by developing modern infrastructure in regional cities, municipalities, and refugee host districts. The inspection mission, led by urban development specialists from the World Bank, seeks to assess the progress of projects under the USMID program and ensure their completion within the extended timeframe.

During the inspection in Moroto Municipality, the Mayor, Ismail Mohammed, requested additional funding for further infrastructure development, emphasizing the positive impact of the USMID projects on local businesses.

The current phase of the USMID program, scheduled for completion by June this year, has been funded up to $360 million. The inspection mission will review the implementation progress of infrastructure activities, including urban roads and bus terminals, as well as the systematic land adjudication and certification activities under the Refugee Window.

Meetings with various ministries, departments, and agencies involved in program implementation will be conducted, along with field visits to selected project sites in the six municipalities. The findings of the inspection mission will inform decisions regarding program closure and future funding, with the government engaging with the World Bank for a follow-on program worth $750 million, targeting new municipalities outside Kampala and its metropolitan areas.