Govt launches sh8b Dick Kaweesa Road project in Nansana

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Government has launched the construction of the sh8 billion Dick Kaweesa Road in Nansana Municipality.

The 1.6km road project in Nansana Municipality (Nabweru South I), which will be upgraded to bitumen standard starting in June, is expected to be completed within 12 months, according to the Ministry of Kampala.

Speaking at the launch in Nansana on April 25, 2026, the State Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, said the contractor had already mobilised equipment and was ready to start works.

“The road will cost about sh8 billion with a one-year timeline. The contractor is in the mobilisation phase and ready to break ground in June,” Kyofatogabye said.

State Minister for Kampala, Kabuye Kyofatogabye (in suit), launches works on the 1.6km road project in Nansana Municipality (Nabweru South I). (Courtesy photo)

He noted that minor technical issues between the contractor and the supervising consultant were being finalised and would be resolved within a week to pave the way for full-scale construction. He expressed confidence in the firm’s capacity, citing its experience in delivering major infrastructure projects.

Kyofatogabye said the government had enforced local content requirements on the project, with at least 30% of the works reserved for Ugandan firms and professionals.

He noted that the move is intended to build local capacity and address concerns about the dominance of foreign contractors in public infrastructure projects.

The undersecretary in the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Monica Edemachu, cautioned that construction must comply with environmental and social safeguards, urging residents and local leaders to monitor the works closely and report any substandard performance.

“This is a results-based project. Poor quality work will affect future funding,” she said, adding that the municipality must also strengthen waste management systems to protect the new infrastructure.

Nansana municipality mayor, Regina Bakitte, described the launch as a long-awaited milestone, noting that the road project has been in the pipeline since 2018.

She said the municipality had ensured the availability of the right of way and called for proper drainage to guarantee durability.

“These are taxpayers’ funds. We must get value for money,” Bakitte said.

The Dick Kaweesa Road works will be implemented under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program, a $566 million (about sh2.1 trillion) initiative largely funded by the World Bank, with support from Agence Française de Développement.

Local contractors receive documents from State Minister for Kampala, Kabuye Kyofatogabye (in suit), and the Under Secretary in the Ministry of Kampala, Monica Edemachu, during an event. (Courtesy photo)

The five-year programme aims to improve mobility, strengthen urban resilience and boost economic activity across Kampala and eight surrounding local governments.

It uses a results-based financing model, where funds are released upon verified progress in infrastructure delivery, financial management and environmental compliance.

Under the programme, more than 125 kilometres of roads are set to be upgraded alongside major drainage works to address flooding, as well as the construction of modern markets and workspaces to support the informal sector and create jobs.