The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | URN | Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga has warned contractors undertaking road construction and rehabilitation projects in the city against installing substandard streetlights, saying some installations fail within three months despite contractual maintenance obligations.
Balimwezo said contractors assigned to construct roads are also required to install streetlights and maintain them for at least one year.
However, he expressed concern that many of the installations do not last even three months, raising questions about the quality of materials used and the effectiveness of project supervision.
He made the remarks while receiving a donation of streetlights from Signify, formerly known as Philips Lighting, under an initiative aimed at improving security and lighting in markets and informal settlements across Kampala.
The donation comprises 98 streetlights intended for seven markets, including Nateete and Kasubi in Lubaga Division, St. Balikuddembe Market, Kalerwe Market, Ggaba Market, Nakawa Market and Katwe Market.A further 110 lights are expected to be installed in five informal settlements, representing each of Kampala’s five divisions.
These include Kazo-Angola in Kawempe, Kabaawo Zone in Lubaga, Mutungo in Nakawa, Kamwokya in Central Division and Katwe II in Makindye.
The project will use tower-mounted solar-powered lights with capacities ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 lumens and 5,000 to 9,000 lumens. The installations are expected to illuminate areas within a radius of approximately 60 metres.
Balimwezo also raised concern about the vandalism of streetlights in different parts of the city, warning that those responsible would face legal action and could be required to compensate for the damage.
He said Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) intends to establish community street committees under the KCCA Act to help monitor public infrastructure, identify and report vandals, and track reckless drivers who knock down streetlights and flee without taking responsibility.
Balimwezo said KCCA would not tolerate the destruction of public infrastructure.
KCCA Lighting Engineer Abdala Ssenyonjo said the engagement with Signify would provide the authority with a technical benchmark for selecting lighting products that meet the city’s requirements.
He said KCCA’s streetlighting master plan identifies a need for approximately 42,000 streetlights across Kampala. The initial phase of the proposed intervention targets the installation of 10,000 lights, with KCCA hoping to work with Signify to advance the programme.
“My job is to make sure that we specify the right product for the city. At least now we have a proper basis for benchmarking, and we believe that we shall have better products for the city, now that we have Signify on board,” he said.
Ssenyonjo acknowledged that inadequate streetlighting remains a major challenge in Kampala, saying improved lighting would contribute to making the city safer and more accessible.
“Everyone knows that the city is dark, and we believe that with such efforts we shall have a better city,” he added.
Balimwezo also revealed that the Signify Foundation, through the non-governmental organisation Enlight, had funded electrical engineering training for young people from informal settlements.
The trained youth are expected to acquire skills to help maintain and repair the donated lighting installations when necessary.
Yue Cui, Director of the Signify Foundation, said the organisation’s lighting interventions in Uganda have targeted schools, hospitals, health facilities and vulnerable communities, where inadequate lighting affects access to essential services and safety after dark.
She said lighting improvements had helped health workers overcome difficulties in attending to patients at night, including situations where medical personnel previously relied on handheld torches during procedures.”I often say I have the best job because I’ve seen the most hope out of people,” she said.
Cui added that improved lighting in informal settlements had helped women, children and other residents feel safer and enabled communities to use public spaces and interact after dark.
Reflecting on the foundation’s nine years of work in Uganda, she described the experience as rewarding and expressed optimism about expanding the partnership to reach more communities.
Signify, formerly Philips Lighting, is a lighting technology company whose foundation supports initiatives that use lighting to address social challenges in underserved communities
