As Uganda intensifies its infrastructure development agenda, the Uganda National Roads Authority has revealed extensive plans to construct and upgrade more than 1,200 kilometers of national roads.
Meanwhile, the Kampala Capital City Authority has simultaneously launched its five-year Strategic Plan for FY2025/26–FY2029/30, allocating a budget of UGX 11.97 trillion toward transforming the capital into a functional, well-planned urban center.
The national road expansion program encompasses several significant projects, including the Kampala–Jinja Expressway developed through a public-private partnership model, the Hoima–Kagadi–Kyenjojo Road expansion, and the prioritized rehabilitation of the Masaka–Mbarara Road.
Construction of new bridges over River Katonga and River Kafu has also been initiated as part of this thorough infrastructure enhancement initiative.
KCCA’s Strategic Plan, anchored on the theme “Revitalizing Kampala into a Functional City,” focuses on developing a well-planned, inclusive, and resilient capital through five strategic objectives: economic growth, social wellbeing, governance, climate resilience, and institutional excellence.
The plan builds upon achievements from National Development Plan III while incorporating lessons for NDP IV integration, having been developed through extensive stakeholder engagement processes. The previous strategic plan covering 2020/21–2024/25 achieved 35.5% of its targets, with COVID-19 significantly impacting revenues and project timelines.
Urban mobility improvements feature prominently in the strategic framework, with targets to reduce average travel time from 4.2 minutes per kilometer to 3.0 minutes per kilometer by 2030.
The plan includes upgrading and reconstructing 325 kilometers of city roads, increasing the paved road network from 37% to 52%, and installing 25,000 new streetlights across Kampala.
A Bus Rapid Transit line stretching 14.4 kilometers will be implemented alongside signalization of 25 junctions under Phase 2 of the Kampala Flyover project at Mukwano, Kitgum House, and Oasis Mall Roundabouts.
Environmental resilience measures include construction of 80 kilometers of drainage channels to address 103 flood-prone blackspots, decommissioning of Kiteezi landfill, and operationalization of a new waste treatment facility at Buyala. These initiatives complement broader national efforts, including urban slum upgrading projects supported by UN-Habitat to improve living conditions across Ugandan cities. The strategic plan also incorporates sustainability and innovation principles in development projects, reflecting global best practices in urban planning.
Public transportation enhancements extend beyond BRT implementation to include commuter rail extensions to Port Bell and Kyengera, with groundwork beginning for the Kampala Light Rail System in partnership with Uganda Railways.
These transit expansions are designed to reduce private vehicle reliance and decrease traffic congestion throughout the metropolitan area.
