Bidding for Uganda road connecting Kampala and Jinja

In Uganda bidding is now underway for the new expressway project to improve transport between capital Kampala and the industrial city of Jinja. The project for the 95km section of road is expected to cost US$1 billion to construct. The contract is being offered under the design, finance, build and operate model, with the route then being handed back to the Ugandan Government once the agreed concession period is complete. Some of the financing will be provided by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), French De
May 22, 2018 Read time: 3 mins
In Uganda bidding is now underway for the new expressway project to improve transport between capital Kampala and the industrial city of Jinja. The project for the 95km section of road is expected to cost US$1 billion to construct. The contract is being offered under the design, finance, build and operate model, with the route then being handed back to the 1073 Ugandan Government once the agreed concession period is complete. Some of the financing will be provided by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), French Development Agency (AFD) and EU. The expressway is to feature from two to four lanes in either direction in various sections and will be a key link on the transport routes for East Africa. This international expressway forms part of the Northern Corridor of the Trans-Africa Highway. It will be the primary transit corridor for transportation of goods to and from Kenya’s port of Mombasa, through Uganda and to the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Rwanda and Burundi.


The project has been planned for some time with feasibility studies have been completed some years ago. Construction was intended to start back in 2015. But the tendering process has been delayed for a variety of reasons, including problems with the permissions process for construction on the land along the route.

Building this new expressway will help reduce the severe congestion on the existing route, which is Uganda’s busiest road, improving travel times for drivers. The project includes more than six major interchanges and link roads that will connect to all the major towns along the route. Also included will be the construction of over 60 bridges (such as flyovers and river crossings), fencing along the length of the route, lighting and toll plazas. The new expressway will start at Kakawa Division in eastern Kampala and will run through Namanve and Mukono in Mukono District, ending at the New Jinja Bridge in Njeru. This 525m-long bridge is being built with two lanes in either direction by the Japanese contractor Zenitaka Corporation. The bridge spans the Victoria Nile, replacing a structure dating from the 1950s that has outlived its design life. Construction of the bridge is close to completion and is costing $125 million, with 80% of the funding having been provided by the Japanese Government and the remainder by the Ugandan Government.

And also in Uganda, the new highway connecting capital Kampala with its international airport at Entebbe is now close to completion.

Finance & Funding

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Realigning Kenyan bypass to avoid quagmire and ease congestion
    March 21, 2012
    Japanese consultants are planning to realign a Kenyan bypass, as Shem Oirere reports. Japanese consultants are resolving an engineering quagmire involving a 17.5km bypass in Kenya's Coast region. The new design realigning the bypass is underway by Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) consultants. The road is an alternative link from the hinterland to the south coast and to the proposed Dongo Kundu Port. The 23m-wide bypass would also serve to reduce traffic congestion across the Likoni Channel t
    Read More
  • Uganda-Kenya link to be upgraded
    January 25, 2018
    An upgrade is planned for the road connecting Uganda with Kenya at the Suam-Bukwo-Kapchorwa border crossing. The majority of the project costs will be paid for by a loan package worth US$94.5 million being provided by the African Development Bank (AfDB). The remaining $11.2 million needed for the work will be paid by the Ugandan Government. The project should take 36 months to carry out and will involve improving the 118km road that runs from Kapchorwa in Uganda to Kitale in Kenya.
    Read More
  • India’s longest tolled expressway is open to traffic
    January 2, 2013
    Earlier this year, a new expressway was opened to traffic in India, adding connectivity to the country’s road network - Mike Woof reports. India’s economic growth has fuelled a massive construction boom in the country. Road building has been set as a priority by the Indian Government to help ensure continued economic development and improve connectivity between major population centres. One major new expressway has recently opened to traffic, having been designed to international standards and provides insi
    Read More
  • Uganda’s capital Kampala receiving road upgrade
    April 3, 2023
    Uganda’s capital Kampala is receiving a major road upgrade.
    Read More

Highlighted Content