President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned road works worth about UGX 1 trillion. The works involve expansion and bituminization of new roads. The new roads will reduce traffic congestion and spur economic activity and employment from improved access to the markets.
The expansion of the Kampala Northern Bypass will see the road that diverts traffic from eastern Uganda (Jinja road) away from the city centre and leading it onto the road to western Uganda through Busega and Masaka Road through a loop road on the east of Kampala, will be expanded from the current two to four lanes.
The works on the Kampala Bypass to be implemented by Portuguese company Mota-Engil at a total cost of 67 million Euro (about UGX 220 billion). The works on the 21 Km stretch of road are funded by the Euroepan union -37 million Euro (UGX 122 billion), Government of Uganda -15 million Euro (UGX49.5 billion), and the European Investment Bank, contributing 15 million Euro (UGX 49.5 billion).
The northern Bypass is both a regional and international road as it connects Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi to the Kenyan Coast of Mombasa. It also services the great North Road on the way from Kampala onto South Sudan. The works are expected to be completed by July 2017.
The other road that was commissioned was the 70.3 KM road from Olwiyo-to Gulu-Musingo on the South Sudan Border. Fully funded by the Government of Uganda, the works will involve newly bituminising the road. The total cost of the works is expected to be UGX 164 billion. The works were handed to Chinese company Zhong Mei Engineering Group.
The Gulu-Acholibur-Kitgum road, also funded by the Government of Uganda will cost UGX 195billion to tarmac the road. The 86 KM road will be done by Chinese company Chonqin International Construction Corporation Ltd (CICO).
These latter two road will open up northern Uganda to access to key town and markets. They will also open access to south Sudan and therefore stimulate trade and creation of employment in the area.
