Kampala-Jinja Expressway to affect telecoms, industries and developers

Oct 28, 2015

The resettlement impact of the construction of US$1.1b (sh3.6trillion) Kampala-Jinja Expressway is expected to be massive, according to officials from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).

By John Odyek

The resettlement impact of the construction of US$1.1b (sh3.6trillion) Kampala-Jinja Expressway is expected to be massive, according to officials from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). 


Pedestrians, slow moving vehicles and those with powered wheel chairs will not be allowed to use this high speed expressway once it is completed.

The officials said a developer will be contracted by end of next year who will be given a maximum of five years to complete the project.

"We have been doing limited road projects with low resettlement. Compensation will be fast tracked, we don't want to delay this project, it will be business unusual," Pamela Ayebare, land acquisition specialist UNRA said.

This was during a meeting with all key stakeholders to discuss the upcoming four lane expressway project. The meeting was held at Kyambogo UNRA offices, Kampala. Over sh300b is required for compensation for the project.

"Properties affected have been evaluated, assessment forms have been signed, and local leaders have been sensitized. If you add on anything it is at your costs. We have a clear view of properties affected, a development order is in place," Ayebare stressed.

Ayebare said 95km road will comprise of two distinct sections, the Kampala-Jinja mainline 77km and the Kampala Southern Bypass of 18km. The Kampala-Jinja section will start at Shoprite, Lugogo Nakawa Division, go through Kyambogo where it turns into Kinawataka and Kasokoko, Namanve and Mukono and end at the new Jinja Bridge in Njeru.

The Kampala Southern Bypass section will start at Butabika and end at Munyonyo. She said UNRA was seeking to partner with the private sector to design, build, finance, operate and transfer what is now called 'greenfield limited access' tolled expressway.

Benon Okumu, senior government valuer revealed that approvals of the resettlement action plan study by his office were being expedited after which they will be disclosed to the affected persons and payments will begin next year.

The design speed of the road will be up to 120kmph between Kampala and Jinja inclusive of an urban expressway section of design speed of up 100kmph. In July 2014, at the Financing for Africa's Infrastructure that took place in Dakar, Senegal, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) identified the expressway as a priority project, one of the six infrastructure projects to be developed before 2020. COMESA allocated US$74m (sh271b) in funding towards the development. The International Finance Corporation is the lead transaction advisor for the project.

Ivan Mwondha, technical manager ICS-Engineering and Environment Ltd the project consultants disclosed that one year before construction starts people with utility services were required to divert their cables away from the designed routes. "We have asked for cost estimates for diversions and funding for compensation is provided for it. Telecom companies must bring in their concerns. There is a proposal now to have common ducts for telecom companies," Mwondha said.

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