Wakiso gets additional sh41b for roads

By John Masaba

WAKISO - The Government has picked China Railway Seventh Group for the shillings 41 billion road construction in Wakiso district.

When completed, the project is expected to yield an additional 6.5km of road network to the district as the Government moves to uplift the district's road infrastructure under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA).

GKMA comprises Kampala, Wakiso, the municipalities of Entebbe, Kira, Makindye-Ssabagabo, Mukono, Mpigi and Nansana.

The project, expected to be completed in 18 months, will yield three paved roads: Bukasa-Sentema-Kakiri, Kisozi-Kitemu roads and Naggallabi Spa.

The project is being constructed under the World Bank-funded Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP).

Speaking during the contract signing ceremony on February 25, 2025, Kampala affairs ministry undersecretary Monica Edemachu, said this is the second road construction project that the Government is giving a green light in Wakiso district in one month.

China Railway Seventh Group official (C) with the Under Secretary Ministry of Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs Monica Edemachu (left) and Wakiso Resident District Commissioner Justine Mbabazi (Right) in company of Wakiso chief Administrative officer Alfred Malinga (in background) at the contract signing ceremony at Wakiso district headquarters on Tuesday. (Credit: John Masaba)

The first contract was signed on February 13, 2025, to rehabilitate the Bukasa-Sentema-Kakiri road, which was awarded to Chongqing International Construction Corporation (CICO) at a total cost of shillings 66.2 billion.

This means the two projects will bring Wakiso's total outlay to shillings 107.2 billion.

“So far, the only entity where we are yet to sign contracts and they are at evaluation stage is Mukono district local government. Flagship projects were in Kira and Mukono municipalities,” Edemachu said, urging the contractors to adhere to social safeguards and environmental requirements of the project.

“We urge our people to co-operate with us because the construction work is going to be robust and is in the entire greater metropolitan area. In one way or the other, we are going to inconvenience people.”

She said, however, that in about three to four years, they expect there will be a drastically improved GKMA infrastructure with improved livelihoods and welfare of its people.

The Under Secretary Ministry of Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Monica Edemachu (fourth from right) with contractors and Wakiso officials. This was after the contract signing ceremony at Wakiso headquarters on Tuesday. (Credit: John Masaba)

According to her, the Government is also expected to benefit from the project through an increased tax base resulting from improved business viability due to improved road infrastructure.    

“We are very grateful that we have signed this contract. We are going to follow up to ensure that implementation is done as per the schedule,” she added.

During the event, Wakiso Resident District Commissioner Justine Mbabazi urged contractors to prioritise locals when looking for support staff for the project. 

"We don't want to see people from other areas working on these projects; make sure you employ youth in Wakiso to help address the problem of unemployment", said Mbabazi.