KCCA warns of traffic disruptions as they launch new road works
KCCA is currently upgrading several roads in and around the city under the GKMA-UDP programme, funded by the World Bank.
(File photo)
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Motorists should brace for traffic interruptions and longer travel times over the next 16 months after Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, announced fresh road rehabilitation works across seven roads in the city.
In a statement, KCCA said the works undertaken under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP) will run from August 5, 2026, and cover Old Kireka Road, Lance Road, Kireka Link, Bombo Road II (Wandegeya-Bwaise), Yusuf Lule Road, Gaddafi Road and Bukoto Street.
“Road users should expect traffic interruption and longer travel times. To ease disruption, plan your journey ahead of time, use alternative routes, follow traffic management plans and traffic police and marshals to maintain flow. Diversion signage will be installed for guidance,” KCCA said.
KCCA is currently upgrading several roads in and around the city under the GKMA-UDP programme, funded by the World Bank. This initiative focuses on upgrading strategic transport corridors, improving drainage, and easing severe traffic congestion across Kampala and surrounding districts. However, the roadworks have come with road closures that have resulted into heavy traffic jam in the city.
In April this year, a senior delegation from the World Bank toured key infrastructure sites in Kampala and held high-level talks with city leaders, reaffirming support for a major urban development programme aimed at transforming mobility, drainage and economic opportunities across the city.
City leaders used the meeting to outline both progress and persistent infrastructure gaps in the fast-growing capital.
Then, KCCA Deputy Executive Director Benon Kigenyi said Kampala has approximately 2,104 kilometers of roads, of which only about 770 kilometers are paved, leaving large sections of the city underserved.
“The areas you visited, like Old Kampala, have narrow and aging roads that can no longer match the city’s growth,” Kigenyi said, noting that at least 74.5 kilometers of roads will be upgraded under the GKMA-UDP. “This programme will significantly transform how people move and do business in the city.”
He added that the project will also address critical gaps in workspaces, pointing out that Kampala’s 17 existing public markets are insufficient for the city’s growing population.
Kigenyi emphasised the importance of integrating drainage systems into road construction, warning that without proper stormwater management, new infrastructure would deteriorate quickly.
“If we don’t manage drainage, the roads will not stand the test of time,” he said. “We are glad this program is prioritising flood control.”
During the meeting, Fan praised KCCA’s leadership and acknowledged implementation challenges, including heavy traffic disruptions during construction.
“There will always be issues. What matters is how they are managed,” Fan said.
He urged city authorities to prioritise drainage infrastructure, strengthen road safety measures particularly behavioral change among road users and enforce regulations to curb encroachment as Kampala’s population expands.
“We will continue to support you and encourage you to accelerate implementation for the success of the project,” Fan said.