The miracle of good roads

Growing up on Entebbe and Gayaza roads gave me a wider perspective of how Kampala and its greater environs have developed over the years.

For those of you scrambling for land in the northern environs of the city in areas like Kyanja, Buwate, Najeera, and Kira, you are taking advantage of the development of the Northern bypass and how it opened up that area.

Put simpler, someone is taking advantage of the improved road network to sell you land expensively, and they are right. It is not that those areas are much closer, they have not moved an inch; however the Northern bypass opened up these areas and made access easy! Before 2003 an acre of land in Kyanja cost between sh5-9m.

The paving of the Kisaasi-Kyanja road coupled with the Northern Bypass threw a spanner in the works. Land prices went through the roof. Unbelievable when you contrast that with today’s prices in the same area.

A 25 decimal plot in Kyanja now goes for an average sh60m, 10 times higher than what an entire acre cost just 10 years ago! The Northern Bypass also led to the paving of many other access roads notably in this area, Kiwatule-Namugongo, and Namugongo-Kira. Accessibility opened up these areas and made them attractive to new home owners.

To sum up Entebbe road, they are still being challenged by the same traffic problems I faced years ago as a kid accessing my Kampala school. But why am I telling you this? Choose one: So you can invest in land, buy up a family home, take advantage foresight in anyway. The proposed Kampala – Entebbe Expressway project is a four–lane road of 51.4 kilometers comprising:

l an expressway between Kampala and Entebbe International Airport; and l a spur to the Munyonyo Resort (running from Nakigalala Kajjansi to Munyonyo). Physical works on the project will start this year.

This project will provide an efficient mass transit route between the two most important cities in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) region (the Capital, Kampala and Entebbe) and will, therefore, form a crucial part of Government’s overall strategy for decongesting Kampala through construction of an inner beltway comprising the Kampala Northern and Southern bypasses as well as an outer beltway along the edges of the GKMA.

This project is, therefore, consistent with objectives of the Master Plan for the GKMA prepared in 2004. Reference to the map released by UNRA on these developments reveals that the a large tract of land is bordered by and served by only two paved roads, Entebbe and Masaka roads. Though areas like Nakawuka, Ssisa and Jungo, are near the city, some people have never heard of them and are now considered backwaters.

Now, for those who are looking at serious developments and land investment, this is one of your best shots to make it work for you.

Land prices in this area are relatively still low compared to other areas, but the prices are steadily going up. One can get an acre of land around Nakawuka starting from sh15m to sh35m, and if you think that is high, wait until the road is done, then we will compare notes. Now is the best time to buy land in these areas.

The map which is available on the UNRA website can tell the location of your area of interest in relation to the new road.

Whether you are buying farmland in Buwaya and Jungo, or tying up land for future use, group saving purchases go for it. Later, the Nakiwogo-Mpigi road will create a large metropolitan triangle running on three axes of Kampala, Entebbe and Mpigi, which is approximately 20 kilometers from Entebbe.

This area already boasts of beautiful beaches, a golf course at Ssisa, a shooting range and other attractions. Do not be dissuaded by the areas’ tricky accessibility now, which is changing soon. And we all know the benefits of the early bird.

The writer is the business development manager, Prudent Group