KYANJA FACILITY SET TO BOOST KCCA’S INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY

Kampala Capital City Authority is positioning its Kyanja Concrete Production Yard and Engineering Materials Testing Laboratory to play a bigger role in the city’s expanding infrastructure development.

KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki toured the facility Tuesday in Kyanja, Nakawa Division, to assess opportunities to further strengthen its contribution to the authority’s road, drainage, building and other infrastructure projects.

The facility, managed by the Directorate of Engineering and Technical Services, brings together concrete production and materials testing on KCCA land, creating a platform for production, quality assurance, skills development, research and innovation.

The visit is part of Buzeki’s continued efforts to strengthen internal technical capacity and make strategic use of its facilities to improve efficiency and value for money in infrastructure delivery.

The Kyanja Concrete Production Yard was established to produce precast concrete products for KCCA’s in-house works across its directorates and to provide practical training in concrete production, particularly for young people.

The yard can produce a range of products, including 600 mm and 900 mm diameter concrete culverts, pavers, building blocks, road and garden kerbstones, walkway slabs, manhole covers, concrete bollards, road barriers, flowerpots and concrete fencing poles.

Work on a shelter for the culvert-making machine is also progressing, paving the way for further enhancement of production capacity.

“Kyanja gives us an opportunity to bring production and materials testing together in one place. With the scale of infrastructure works taking place across Kampala, this facility can make a significant contribution to how we deliver projects,” Buzeki said.

Deputy Director of Drainages Moriss Kerania said the proposed integration would strengthen quality assurance while supporting more efficient infrastructure delivery.

“Our vision is to develop this into an integrated Civil Materials Production and Testing Centre that supports production, testing, training, research and innovation. It is an investment that can continue serving the city for many years,” Kerania said.

The Engineering Materials Testing Laboratory is already constructed and substantially equipped, with dedicated facilities for concrete, soil and gravel, asphalt and bitumen and other materials testing.

The laboratory is equipped to support concrete compressive-strength, slump and core testing; soil compaction, particle-size analysis, California Bearing Ratio and moisture-content testing; steel and metallurgical testing; asphalt and bitumen testing, including density and Marshall Stability; and field sampling and non-destructive testing.

The laboratory will strengthen KCCA’s ability to undertake quality assurance and quality control of construction materials used in city infrastructure projects.

With Kampala implementing major road, drainage, building and other infrastructure projects, the facility is expected to provide an important technical resource for ensuring that materials meet required standards.

KCCA is further expected to receive equipment from two fully equipped project laboratories established under the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project upon completion of the project.

The equipment, expected to be handed over to KCCA before December 2026, will provide an opportunity to further expand the authority’s internal materials-testing capacity.

The planned expansion also provides an opportunity for KCCA to strengthen laboratory accommodation and equipment management to support effective utilization of the additional resources.

DETS is developing a broader vision to transform the Kyanja facility into an integrated Civil Materials Production and Testing Centre.

The center would provide materials testing, concrete-product manufacturing, training, research and innovation services, creating a single technical platform to support KCCA’s infrastructure programs.

Buzeki’s visit underscores KCCA’s focus on strengthening systems that support infrastructure delivery and maximizing the value of its assets for the benefit of Kampala residents.

As the city continues to invest in roads, drainage and other infrastructure, the Kyanja facility is positioned to become an increasingly important part of KCCA’s technical capacity and its drive to deliver a functional, modern and resilient city.

By Geofrey Araali Mutegeki

Communication and Media Relations Officer