Uganda Road Fund in Search of New Boss as Eng Odongo Quits

By Max Patrick Ocaido

Uganda Road Fund (URF) is in search of a new Executive Director as Dr. Eng. Michael Odongo retires after 10years at the helm.

Eng. Odongo has been URF ED since its inception in 2010 and his 10year’s journey ends late this year. Indeed, as the Fund prepares to celebrate its 10years in existence, the Fund will also be bidding farewell to their own Executive Director-Odongo who has walked the journey with them since 2010.

Since last week, Eng Odongo has been holding his last regional tours dubbed “End of Service Tour” where he was giving highlights of his journey at URF ED since 2010. The regional tours ended on Monday in Masaka district.

Under Eng. Odongo’s leadership, URF’s budget has grown from Shs100bn in 2010 to over Shs500bn in 2019 which has enabled the agency finance routine and periodic maintenance of 140,000Km of public roads.

As a result, URF Procurement unit has issued public adverts inviting applications from qualified candidates to replace Eng Odongo as Executive Director. The applicants have up to October 31, 2019 to apply.

According to section 19 of the URF Act, 2008, the Executive Director shall hold office for five years and is eligible for re-appointment for one more term. Section 17 of the same Act however says that the Executive Director shall be appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the Board and shall perform such functions as the Board may direct or delegate to him or her.

In October, 2008 Parliament passed the Uganda Road Fund Act, the object of which is to finance the routine and periodic maintenance of public roads in Uganda from earmarked road user charges. The Fund has a duty to finance the implementation of the Annual Road Maintenance Programmes that are carried out by the Uganda National Roads Authority, Kampala Capital City Authority and the other designated roads agencies responsible for District, Urban and Community Access Roads.