Govt to build 10 new expressways

KAMPALA - The Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to improve the country’s transport infrastructure by constructing 10 new expressways, district roads, major bridges and upgrading key airports. 

Over the next five years, a total of 163 mega transport projects are planned to be implemented under the Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Services Programme, with a focus on expanding Uganda’s road, rail, water and air transport networks. 

As part of this plan, the Government will construct 10 expressways to ease travel between Kampala and other regions. 

These include the Kampala-Hoima Expressway, which will link the capital to Hoima city, the Kibuye-Busega Expressway connecting Makindye Division to Busega and the Kampala-Bombo Expressway, which will improve access to Luweero district. 

Additionally, the Government will develop the Nakasero-Northern Bypass Expressway, to provide a faster route from Kampala city centre to the bypass for travellers heading to Masaka, Fort Portal and Entebbe. 

The plan to build expressways is part of the key investments that the Government has committed to deliver on under the National Development Plan IV (NDPIV).
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The implementation of the new National Development Plan will commence during the next financial year (2025/2026), which starts on July 1 and ends in the 2029/2030 financial year. 

The NDPIV strategic direction was approved by the Cabinet in March last year. Within this period, the Government will also undertake construction works for the Mpigi-Masaka Expressway, to relieve the Masaka road of the pressure and traffic. 

At Mpigi, motorists from the Busega-Mpigi Expressway or the main highway will connect to Masaka via the new Mpigi-Masaka Expressway. 

Other major projects include: the Kampala Outer Beltway, designed to improve movement within the city and the Kampala-Southern Bypass, which will link Munyonyo to Bweyogerere. 

The beltway will be a ring road around Kampala, connecting one division of the city to another. 

In eastern Uganda, new expressways will connect Jinja city to Iganga and the border towns of Malaba and Busia to facilitate trade and movement within the region. 

Many of these projects are currently in the pre-feasibility stage, while others have already been costed. The Kampala-Jinja Expressway alone is projected to cost approximately sh2.3 trillion.

Daniel Muhumuza NuweAbine

Bridges  

Beyond roads, the Government is also set to improve connectivity by constructing 158 new bridges across major water bodies. 

Among these is the Nakiwogo Bridge, which will replace the ferry service between Entebbe and Buwaya and the Masindi Port Bridge, which will link Kiryandongo to the Lango region. 

A new Karuma Bridge will also be built to enhance connectivity to Northern Uganda’s Acholi region, while other key projects include the Katunguru, Ssezibwa and Laropi bridges, which will strengthen access to vital trade and transport routes.

Air transport 

Uganda’s air transport sector will also benefit from major upgrades. The Government plans to upgrade six airports, including Kidepo Airport in Kaabong, which will become Uganda’s third international airport after Entebbe and Kabalega. 

Pakuba Airport in Murchison Falls National Park and Kisoro Airport will also be improved to support tourism. Additionally, Arua, Gulu and Kasese airports will be upgraded to handle more domestic and regional flights.

Efficient transport 

According to the NDPIV, the Government believes these investments will create an efficient, safe and sustainable transport system that integrates roads, rail, air and water transport. 

The projects are also expected to enhance urban mobility, particularly as the country prepares to host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.

What others say 

Marie Violet, a project assistant at Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (COST) Uganda, said the multi-model transport system is attainable if transparency and accountability are emphasised in all the processes from the projects identification to completion. 

“The project execution processes, from identification to the end, should be a straight path. And if everything is straight, the achievement of projects will be a walkover and our country infrastructure will greatly improve,” she said. 

Violet said the general public should fully be engaged in the implementation of these projects so that they can own them. “Where compensation for projects is required, it should be done transparently and our local contractors should fully be involved to ensure a sense of ownership to avoid mismanagement,” she said. 

Okeya

Daniel Muhumuza NuweAbine, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) head of public and corporate affairs, said they are prepared to implement part of the infrastructure projects under their jurisdiction. 

“Our plans as KCCA must be the ones to fit into the broad government plans. What Government is planning for the city will address transport bottlenecks we are grappling with. Expressways and flyovers will improve motorable mobility. This is well demonstrated at the Clock Tower, where the flyover has addressed the problem of jam,” he said.

Tororo district chairperson John Okeya said the Government’s plan to build more expressways will greatly address congestion on the Jinja-Road and largely the eastern route. 

“For instance, the Standard Gauge Railway, which has many connections, especially here in Tororo, will boost development in our region,” he said. Joseph Ssewungu (MP Kalungu West), expressed pessimism, saying: “Queens Way in Kampala took about six years to complete.”

Current Outlook

According to a report by the National Planning Authority (NPA) incorporated into the final NDPIV, the current transport infrastructure stock is biased towards roads, leading to a high cost of freight, increased depreciation of stock, increased travel time and limited interoperability. 

The report indicates that over 95% of freight and passenger transport is by road, with untapped potential in water, railway and air transport. In about a decade, the stock of paved national roads increased from 3,264km in the financial year 2010/2011 to 6,199km in 2023/24. 

Although the country has not achieved its targets, the current stock of national paved roads compares well with regional counterparts, save for Kenya. 

The stock of urban paved roads has increased to 2,282km (12%) in financial year 2023/24, from 1,230km (6.2%) in 2018/19. 

“However, over-reliance on the road network has led to accelerated deterioration, higher maintenance costs and traffic congestion. Over 81% of the entire road network is currently in poor condition. 

“Of the total network, 14% national roads, 43% KCCA roads, 74.2% secondary city roads, 85.7% district roads, 86.2% municipal roads and 95.2% town council roads are in poor condition.” 

President Yoweri Museveni, while launching the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Tororo recently, regretted that the country’s transport system was irrational with congested roads. 

“We are going to rationalise it and the Standard Gauge Railway is part of the rationalisation drive of the sector,” he said. Museveni noted: “Everything is on the roads. Now the economy has recovered and growing, it is high time we remove all these irrationalities.”