Kampala–Mpigi Expressway

The Kampala–Mpigi Expressway, also Busega–Mpigi Expressway, is a four-lane, dual carriage highway under construction in the Central Region of Uganda, connecting, Kampala, the capital city, and Mpigi, the headquarters of Mpigi District.[1]

Kampala–Mpigi Expressway
Route information
Length22 mi (35 km)
HistoryDesignated in 2020
Expected completion in 2023
Major junctions
North endBusega
 Kyengera
Nsangi
South endMpigi
Highway system
Roads in Uganda

Location

The road starts at Busega, a neighborhood in Makindye Division in the city of Kampala. It continues in a southwesterly direction, through Kyengera, Nabbingo and Nsangi to end at Mpigi, a distance of approximately 28.5 kilometres (18 mi).[2] The approximate coordinates of the road, near the town of Maya, are 0°15'54.0"N, 32°25'49.0"E (Latitude:0.265012; Longitude:32.430288).[3] The expressway is a component of the Kampala–Masaka Road.[2]

Background

The current road is a two-lane single carriageway in good condition. The government of Uganda plans to widen the road to a four-lane dual carriage highway, as part of its efforts to decongest Kampala. The construction is planned to be funded under a public-private partnership arrangement.[4]

The design includes four major interchanges at Nabbingo, Nsangi, Maya and Lugala. These interchanges will allow connection with the Kampala Northern Bypass Highway and the Entebbe–Kampala Expressway. The government of Uganda has secured funding of US$91 million (UShs322 billion) to fund the 23 kilometres (14 mi) section between Busega and Mpigi. The 9.5 kilometres (6 mi) section between Kibuye and Busega is to be expanded by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), with funding from the Exim Bank of China, once CCCC has completed the Entebbe-Kampala Expressway.[5]

Timetable

In 2014, the China Communications Construction Company, which was also commissioned to build the Entebbe–Kampala Expressway, was contracted to construct an interchange at Busega which connects the two expressways. To save money and time, the same contractor was hired to construct the section between Kibuye and Busega, measuring about 9 kilometres (6 mi).[6] In December 2016, the Daily Monitor reported that construction was expected to begin in 2018[1] and last three years.[7]

In July 2019, after delays, the construction contract was awarded to a consortium of Chinese companies, that includes China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Railway 19th Bureau Group Company Limited. Construction is expected to last 36 months, with commission planned in the second half of 2022.[8]

Construction began in May 2020 and completion is expected sometime in 2023.[9]

Construction costs

Application for funding has been made to the African Development Bank (AfDB).[10] The estimated cost of the road was budgeted at approximately US$100 million, as reported by the Daily Monitor.[11] The cost is now budgeted at US$91 million (loan from AfDB) plus $41 million contributed by the government of Uganda for a total of US$132 million.[12]

In July 2019, the Daily Monitor newspaper quoted the contract price at Shs547 billion (approx. US$150 million), partly borrowed from the African Development Bank (AfDB).[8] The New Vision, another Ugandan newspaper reported that the entire construction cost was funded by an AfDB loan.[13]

See also

References
  1. Musisi, Frederic (30 December 2016). "Kampala-Mpigi Expressway project kicks off in 2018". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  2. Google (6 June 2020). "Road Distance Between Busega, Uganda and Mpigi, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  3. Google (10 February 2016). "Location of Kampala–Mpigi Expressway" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  4. UNRA (10 February 2016). "Uganda Roads PPP Projects: Kampala–Mpigi Expressway". Kampala: Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  5. Mufumba, Isaac (24 January 2018). "Kibuye-Mpigi expressway stuck on government's to-do list 7 years later". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  6. Wanyenya, Prisca (9 May 2014). "UNRA Announces Changes on Kampala-Entebbe Express Highway". The Red Pepper. Kampala. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  7. Taddeo Bwambale (30 December 2016). "Busega-Mpigi expressway to cut travel time to 20 minutes". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  8. Frederic Musisi (12 July 2019). "Shs540 Billion Mpigia–Busega Expressway Awarded To Chinese Consortium". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  9. Sadat Mbogo (27 May 2020). "Works On Busega-Mpigi Expressway Finally Kick Off". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  10. AfDB (28 October 2015). "Kampala–Mpigi & Mirama Hills Bridge (Kagitumba)–Kayonza–Rusumo Project (Rwanda/Uganda): Status - Pipeline". Abidjan: African Development Bank (AfDB). Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  11. Tumusiime, Abdulaziizi (16 January 2015). "UNRA to get Shs3 trillion for funding new road projects". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  12. Paul Mugume (29 December 2016). "Uganda, ADB Move to Finance Busega-Mpigi 4-Lane Expressway". Kampala: Chimpreports.com. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  13. David Lumu (11 July 2019). "UNRA signs contract to complete Busega-Mpigi Expressway". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 13 July 2019.

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