Jinja city begins six-year drive to upgrade 13.82km of roads
Construction works are scheduled to officially commence on September 7, 2026. Roads lined up for construction include Rippon Road, Narambhai, Oboja, Nile Crescent, Kirinya, Kyabazinga, Gokhale, Nile Avenue, Elgon Close and Kisinja Close.
Jinja mayor Nagaya Abdulhafidh (with a microphone), Jinja RCC Salim Kumakech (right) and Jinja city councillors during the launch of the road construction works. (Photos by Doreen Musingo)
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Jinja city has embarked on a sh82.9b project to construct roads aimed at improving connectivity and easing transport within the city.
Under the project launched on September 4, 2026, at least 13.82 kilometres of roads in the central business district will be paved, with the works handed to Abubaker Technical Services and General Suppliers Limited.
Phase one of the project is expected to last six years and will be executed under a pre-financing arrangement, under which the contractor uses its own funds and is reimbursed by the Government later.
Construction works are scheduled to officially commence on September 7, 2026. Roads lined up for construction include Rippon Road, Narambhai, Oboja, Nile Crescent, Kirinya, Kyabazinga, Gokhale, Nile Avenue, Elgon Close and Kisinja Close.
Launching the works, Jinja resident city commissioner Salim Kumakech said the road project was part of the Government's efforts to improve infrastructure and stimulate development in the city.
Kumakech said the construction work demonstrated the Government's commitment to improving service delivery and urged residents to support the contractor to ensure the project is completed on time.
“This is the meal we have been preparing for the people of Jinja city. You should be proud of this 13-kilometre road project. The government has approved the project and more major roads in Jinja will be upgraded as resources become available,” he said.
A section of Ripon road which is in a sorry state. Construction works will start with Ripon road.
Kumakech also pledged to ensure that the investment environment in the city is protected and that the contractor delivers quality work that represents value for money.
John Choli, the principal city clerk, said the project would be implemented in phases because of the high cost of constructing urban roads.
He said the city has approximately 800 kilometres of roads, with about 200 kilometres located in the Southern Division, which is the old municipality.
Choli said the first phase would cover 13.82 kilometres at a contract cost of sh82,886,979,423, translating to approximately sh6.3b per kilometre.
Eron Herbert Ssemanda, the project coordinator at Abubaker Technical Services and General Suppliers Limited, said that whereas the official contract period was six years, the works could be completed in three years if the contractor was given adequate cooperation and a favourable working environment.
Ssemanda said the contractor had deployed a team of engineers and other technical staff to ensure the project was implemented according to the required standards.
He said works would start with Rippon Road, followed by Owen Road, because of their drainage impact on surrounding communities and their connection to the river system.
“We shall need the cooperation of the stakeholders and the community, who we believe will be somehow inconvenienced during the construction period,” he said.
He said the company had deployed full-time health, safety and environment officers to minimise accidents and ensure safety during the works.
Abdulhafidh Nagaya, the Jinja city mayor, also welcomed the project, saying the city had for years faced challenges arising from poor road connectivity.
He said the road works would improve connectivity, boost businesses and contribute to the development of the city. He urged residents to support the project.
The mayor also revealed that the city was expecting additional road projects under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme.
He said about sh101b had been earmarked under USMID, with the 9.8-kilometre Dunlop-Masese Road in Walukuba expected to receive approximately sh62b.
The USMID project is expected to start later this month, according to the mayor.
Sazir Kawooma, the LC1 chairperson of Iganga Road, asked residents to abide by the guidelines that will be set by the contractor during the construction works. He also asked the contractor to avoid using machinery in dangerous mechanical conditions to prevent accidents.
Isma Muhammad Nkuutu, the Jinja Central East parish chairperson, urged the contractor to give priority to youth for both casual and skilled labour, since the area has many unemployed young people.