• Lawmakers back $87.6 million prefunding for 87 km Kayunga–Bbaale–Galiraya road
• China Road and Bridge Corporation to design and build project over 24 months
• Project includes bridge and ferry landing on Lake Kyoga

Uganda’s parliament has approved a prefunding package of 313.2 billion Ugandan shillings, or about $87.6 million, for the design and construction of the Kayunga–Bbaale–Galiraya road in the country’s central region, according to local media reports.

The project covers the paving of the 87 km road, which is currently gravel and difficult to use during the rainy season. The works, expected to be completed over 24 months, have been awarded to China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

Long discussed, the project had faced delays due to budget constraints. In addition to upgrading the road, the investment includes construction of a bridge and a ferry landing site on Lake Kyoga. Uganda’s Ministry of Works said CRBC will provide prefunding for both the design and execution of the project.

The road upgrade is part of the government’s strategy to open up agricultural areas in central and northern Uganda. Authorities say improved infrastructure will shorten travel times, lower transport costs, ease interregional trade, and help reduce territorial disparities.

Beyond road connectivity, the Kayunga–Bbaale–Galiraya corridor fits into a broader plan to develop a multimodal transport network. As Uganda expands its rail system, notably on the Kampala–Malaba and Tororo–Gulu lines, authorities are seeking to rebalance the transport system and reduce pressure on roads.

The planned ferry landing on Lake Kyoga is intended to add an inland water transport link to the logistics network, with transshipment options for moving goods toward eastern regions and the port of Mombasa in Kenya, Uganda’s main maritime gateway.

Henoc Dossa