INVESTIGATING FACTORS AFFECTING MAINTENANCE OF DISTRICT AND TOWN COUNCIL ROADS IN UGANDA: A CASE STUDY OF BUIKWE DISTRICT

Abstract

The study investigated the factors that affected the maintenance of District and Town Council Roads in Buikwe district. Specific objectives considered included identifying how technical factors, financial factors and road policy factors affected road maintenance. The study adopted both cross-sectional survey design and a case study design. A sample size of 113 respondents was drawn from an accessible population of 118 respondents using the purposive and simple random sampling techniques. A response rate of 70% was obtained. The findings indicate that, technical factors and road maintenance were found to have a significant positive relationship (.713**), financial factors and road maintenance also had significantly positive relationship of (.581**) and finally road policy were also found to have a significantly positive relationship with road maintenance of (.754**). The conclusions drawn on financial factors included; delayed release of conditional grants, lack of accountability and late submission of reports, non-adherence to procurement guidelines, regulations and insufficient funds. While technical factors conclusions included lapse in management of road equipment, laxity in supervision and fewer staff motivated. Delayed appraisal of staff, fewer road maintenance equipment and no established mechanical workshops. Additionally, policy factors were concluded as follows; District and Town Council road operational guidelines updated with some obsolete clauses. Road maintenance policy framework exists but not clearly understood. Further trainings were discriminative. Key recommendations made include: establishment of mechanical workshops, review the existing internal training policies and allocate more resources towards supervision and monitoring of road maintenance activities. Lobby road development partner and tighten staff supervision. Review road maintenance policies, hold local consultations with key beneficiaries and disseminate information pertaining road maintenance policies and guidelines.