When NRM took power in 1986, inadequate transport infrastructure was one of Uganda’s biggest problems. Over the years, we have improved it to increase prosperity among the people of Uganda.
Historical experience provides proof that if you construct a road or railway through a cultivable area, you automatically stimulate economic development.
PROGRESS ON NATIONAL ROADS
Uganda has a total road network of about 159,366km comprising of:
20,854km (13%) national roads;
38,603km (24%) district roads;
19,959km (13%) urban roads and
79,947km (50%) community access roads.
The national roads link border posts, airports and ports to each other as well as to the capital city.
District roads link district headquarters to the national road network and subcounty administrative centres.
Urban roads are within the boundaries of urban areas, while community access roads are those within villages that link communities and provide access to administrative, social and economic services.
The Uganda road network has tremendously expanded and improved. At independence in 1962, Uganda had only 844km of tarmac roads.
Although the post-independence Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) government extended tarmac roads to new towns such as Mbarara-Kabale, Mbarara-Fort Portal and Kampala-Gulu-Lira, the road network had collapsed by the time NRM took power in 1986.
NRM ROAD NETWORK TARGET
The long-term target — enshrined in Uganda Vision 2040 — is to achieve an average of paved road density of 100km per 1,000sq.km by the year 2040. The stock of the paved road network continues to increase, a result of the well thought out decision to prioritise road construction.
The big national and inter-district roads have already connected many of the sub-counties and town councils in Uganda
COMPLETED ROADS
The following roads, as promised in the 2016-2021 manifesto, have been completed.
Atiak-Nimule 35Km
Ishaka-Kagamba 35.4km
Ntungamo-Mirama Hills 37km
Moroto-Nakapiripirit 114km
Kampala-Entebbe Expressway/Munyonyo 51km
Mpigi-Kanoni 65km
Mukono-Kyetume-Katosi/Nyenga 74km
Mbarara Bypass 14.5km
Kazo-Ibanda-Kamwenge 75km
Kamwenge-Fort Portal 65kmIganga-Kaliro 32km
Soroti-Katakwi-Moroto 150km
Lumino-Musita-Busia-Majanji 104km
Kashenyi-Mitooma 11km
Kitanda-Bigasa-Gomba-Sembabule 110km
Acholi Bur-Kitgum-Musingo 86.4km
Gulu-Acholi Bur 70.3km
Nyakabande-Mutolere 5km
Nyakabande-Muganzi 7km
Rushere-Nshwerenkye 11km
Vurra-Oraba 9.4 km
The total distance of the above completed new roads is 1,162km, bringing the total kilometers of tarmacked roads to 5,500km, having been 1,000km in 1986.
ROADS THAT HAVE BEEN REHABILITATED 2016-2021
The following old roads, covering a total of 449.2km, have been rehabilitated or reconstructed.
Kafu-Kiryandongo-Kamdini 43.0km
Kyenjojo-Fort Portal 50.0km
Nansana-Busunju 47.0km
Mbale-Sironko-Kapchorwa and Mbale town roads 66.2km
Katunguru-Kasese 40.0km
Mukono-Kayunga-Njeru 94.0km
Katunguru-Hima-Fort Portal 60.0km
TOTAL 449.2 km
NEW ROADS UNDER PROCUREMENT
Construction of the following roads is at various stages of procurement. Funds have already been committed.
Seeta-Kyaliwajjala-Matugga-Wakiso-Buloba-Nsangi 32.0km
Najanankumbi-Busabala 11.0km
Kibuye-Busega 10.0km
Luwero-Butalangu 29.6km
Butalangu-Kapeeka-Kituma 60.0km
Rwenkunye-Apac 91.0km
Apac-Lira-Puranga 100.0km
Lusalira-Nkonge-Lumegere-Sembabule 97.0km
Karugutu-Ntoroko 50.3km
Kabwoya-Buhuuka 43.0km
Kabale-L Bunyonyi-Kabeho 15.1km
Kisoro-Mgahinga National Park headquarters 14.0km
Kisoro-Nkuringo-Rubugiri-Muko 72.0km
Laropi-Moyo-Afoji 37.3
Koboko-Yumbe-Moyo 105.0km
Namagumba-Budadiri-Nalugugu 33.0km0
Tororo-Busia 25.0km
Katuna – Muko – Kamuganguzi 104.0km
TOTAL 929.3km
The above projects (ongoing and those under procurement) will be completed around 2022.
NEW ROAD PROJECTS TO BE STARTED BY 2023
Kisubi-Nakawuka-Natete/Nakawuka-Kasanje-Mpigi/Nakawuka–Mawugulu-Nanziga-Maya/Kasanje-Buwaya71.0km
Luku-Kalangala-Mulabana66.0km
Misindye-Kabimbiri -Zirobwe-Wobulenzi-Kapeeka138.0km
Lugazi-Buikwe-Kiyindi 28.0km
Kayunga-Busana-River Nile-Kamuli34.0km
Kayunga-Bbaale-Galiraya 89.0km
Puranga-Acholi Bur 62.0km
Pajule-Pader district headquarters 18.0km
Kitgum-Orom-Karenga 116.0km
Karenga-Bira (Kaabong-Sudan Border)42.0km
Atiak-Kitgum 108.0km
Katine-Ochero70.0km
Dokolo-Ochero-Namasale88.0km
Kotido-Kaabong 64.0km
Moroto-Kotido100.0km
Moroto-Lokitanyala 28.0km
Kotido-Abim-Aloi-Lira 187.0
Manibe-Yumbe77.0
Nambole-Namilyango-Seeta-Mukono (14.0km)
Kanyantorogo-Butogota-Bohoma 31.4km
Nkenda-Bugoye-Ibanda/Nyankalingijjo10.3km
Mubuku-Maliba-Nyakalingijjo15.3km
Ishasha-Katunguru87.0km
Rwimi-Dura-Kamwenge-Kazo140.0km
Ntusi-Lyantonde-Rakai105.0km
Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli 65.0km
Kamuli-Bukungu 64.0km
Soroti-Serere-Pingire-Mugarama64.0
Kumi-Ngora-Brooks Corner-Serere-Kagwara 102.0km
Bubulo-Bududa Circular Road 28.0km
Mbale-Nkokonjeru 21.0km
Bwizibwera-Nyakambu-Nsiika-Nyakashala-Nyakabirizi — with a spur to Kabwohe and Kyambura 92.2km
Kabwohe – Bugongi – Kitagata – Kabira – Rukungiri 67.0km
Kanoni-Mityana 37.0km
Myanzi-Kasanda-Byukwiya-Kiboga 65.0km
Iganga-Bulopa/Luuka-Kamuli 57.2km
Nabumali-Butaleja-Namutumba 90.0km
Busolwe-Nagogera-Tororo 44.0km
Kanungu-Rugyeyo-Nyakisenyi road 70.0km
Fort Portal-Kijura-Kyarusozi-Katooke 83.8km
Kashwa-Kashongi-Ruhumba road33.0km
Mayuge-Mbaale-Nakivumbi-Bugiri-Namayingo-Lugala 90.0km
Namutumba-Bulange-Nabukalu-Bugiri-Muterere-Nankoma 60.0km
A total of 2,988.2 km roads is yet to be constructed.
The NRM is committed to developing all modes of transport, including road, railway, water and air to reduce the cost of both passenger and cargo transport.
First, reducing freight transportation costs from Mombasa Port and other ports to Kampala and other parts of the country.
Second, reduce average travel time within Kampala City and the surrounding areas.
Third, we are going to continue with the effort of opening up all parts of Uganda and connect them to the paved national road network.
Fourth, using a science-led approach, we will reduce the unit cost of building transport infrastructure.
Lastly, maintaining transport infrastructure (particularly the tarmacking of roads) to increase the average lifespan of roads from 15 to 20 years and more.
