The Ugandan government has announced a shift in infrastructure strategy to focus on the maintenance of existing roads over the construction of new ones. The decision comes amidst reduced allocations of funds and inadequate releases, which have led to a substantial maintenance backlog in the road network across the country.

The Minister of Works and Transport Katumba Wamala emphasised the need to prioritise maintenance to preserve and protect existing road assets in a statement to parliament on 24 April.

"This has created a significant maintenance backlog that shall necessitate increased focus on maintenance of the paved road network," he explained.

Wamala said an increased allocation of resources in the fourth National Development Plan (NDPIV) was crucial to preserving road assets. He noted the reduction in resources had delayed key interventions planned under NDPIII, which covered the period 2020/21-2024/25, including road upgrades to support tourism, oil and gas activities and congestion relief in urban areas.

The NDPIII included 3,500km of roads earmarked for upgrading and the construction of strategic bridges. But the pandemic and subsequent economic shocks led to a drastic reduction in funding for infrastructure projects.

"Allocations for road development dropped significantly, affecting both domestically funded and externally funded projects,” said Wamala. “The pandemic disrupted construction activities and land acquisition processes further hampering project implementation.”

By June 2023, 750km of national roads had been upgraded to paved standard, falling short of the target of 1,500km.

Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has carried forward debts of Ugandan shilling 215 billion (US$54.5 million), Ugandan shilling 471 billion (US$123.7 million), and Ugandan shilling 629 billion (US$165.2 million) for the last three financial years respectively in the NDPIII period.

“The rising cost of construction especially after Covid-19 has led to an increase in key road construction and maintenance inputs such as bitumen, steel, timber and fuel thus increasing the costs of operation,” Wamala added.

As of March 2024, UNRA had 21 road upgrading projects and 10 rehabilitation projects ongoing, with a further 72 road-related contracts under procurement and 50 projects under design, and five deals signed and pending implementation.

Regarding the planned Kampala-Jinja Expressway, the minister told parliament that the government needs more than Ugandan shilling 236 billion (US$62 million) to pay the project affected persons, adding that the right of way will be acquired by the end of December 2024 for sections 1 and 2, and section 3 by December 2025. Road construction works are expected to start in December 2025.

The Kampala-Jinja Expressway is being developed as a public-private partnership (PPP). The project involves constructing a limited-access 76km tolled expressway between the capital Kampala and Jinja in the east to relieve congestion on the existing Kampala-Jinja highway as well as issues on radial routes out of Kampala.

The project also includes the construction of the 18km Kampala Southern Bypass, which will link to the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway and the Northern Bypass to form a ring road around the city.

The PPP is planned to have a 30-year term and will use a design, build, finance, operate and transfer contract model. The total development cost has been estimated at US$1.1 billion. The private sector partner has yet to be appointed. The African Development Bank (AfDB) signed a U$229.5 million financing agreement for the first phase of the Kampala-Jinja Expressway in 2021. The IFC is acting as the transaction advisor for the project.

Another upcoming road project in Uganda is the 115.8km Kitgum-Kidepo road in the north of the country. The government is planning to borrow US$117.3 million from the UK’s Standard Chartered Bank to support project. It is understood that ASGC UK will develop the road in collaboration with the local DOTT Services.

In February, UNRA invited expressions of interest from consultants to carry out the design review and construction supervision for the 104km Katuna-Muko-Kamuganguzi road Lot 2 upgrade. The project is being supported with funding from the AfDB.

The work involves upgrading the 66.5km Muko-Katuna road and the 37km Muko-Kamuganguzi road from gravel to bituminous standard to facilitate increased access, trade and tourism within southwestern Uganda. It also includes the construction of village footbridges and improvement works at health centres. The deadline for submitting bids was 7 March.

Previously, in January, bids were invited to carry out civil works to upgrade the 69.8km Katine-Ochero road to bituminous standard including the construction of 2.9km of town roads in Kaberamaido and Kalaki. The Islamic Development Bank and OPEC Fund for International Development are supporting the project. The deadline for submitting bids was 19 March.