Kayunga, Uganda: President Yoweri Museveni on Friday, July 11, officially commissioned the construction of the Kayunga–Bbaale–Galiraya Road, a long-awaited infrastructure project expected to halve travel distance between Northern and Central Uganda and open new economic corridors across the country.
The 87-kilometre road, to be constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) at a cost of Shs213.9 billion ($57 million), will be financed under a deferred payment model, with the government set to begin reimbursement after two years. Supervision will be conducted internally by the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, the President described the road as a “strategic route” that significantly shortens the journey between districts like Amolatar in the Lango sub-region and Kampala, from over 200 miles to just about 100.
“This road has been in the pipeline for a long time. From Amolatar through Kayunga to Kampala, it’s around 100 miles. If you go via Karuma and Soroti, it’s about 200 miles. That’s why this road is very important,” said Museveni.
The road corridor will integrate ferry services at Galiraya (Kawongo) and support future development of town roads, strengthening transport connectivity, lowering transport costs, and enhancing trade, agriculture, and fisheries along Lake Kyoga and surrounding districts.
Residents Donate Land to Fast-track Project
The President praised the residents of Kayunga and surrounding sub-counties for their patriotism, having offered land for the project without demanding compensation. He revealed the would-be compensation bill stood at Shs76 billion, nearly a third of the total cost.
“You have said, give us the road, we won’t charge for the land. That’s clever and patriotic,” Museveni said. “You understand ekibaro – the smart calculation. You’ve saved your own project. I’ll use you as an example for the whole country.”
He also commended CRBC for accepting deferred payments until Uganda’s oil revenues begin flowing. “Instead of your machines sitting idle, they will now work. And you’ve trusted us to pay later. That is commendable,” Museveni said.
Despite the tarmac transformation, the President reminded residents that wealth creation at the household level remains essential, cautioning that “poverty cannot be fixed by roads alone.”
Road to Open Northern Access to Kampala
Works and Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala called the groundbreaking a major milestone in Uganda’s infrastructure journey.
“This road becomes a powerful artery linking Central Uganda to the North and Northeast,” he said. “It will reduce vehicle operating costs, boost access to services, and support the development of oil and gas exploration in the Kyoga Basin.”
Gen. Katumba noted that the road corridor will remain within 30 metres, below the standard 50, to minimize displacements, while also recognizing the Ministry of Lands for formalizing voluntary land donations.
“There will be no room for delays or inflated budgets. We commit to delivering this road on time and within cost,” he added, urging the community to safeguard the project and support the contractor.
A Dream Fulfilled After 30 Years
State Minister for Planning Hon. Amos Lugoloobi hailed the moment as a 30-year-old dream finally becoming a reality. “This is the day we’ll tell our children about,” said Lugoloobi. “This road directly links Kayunga to the Lango sub-region via ferry, unlocking trade, tourism, and markets.”
He reaffirmed the road’s alignment with national development goals, especially for agriculture, services, and industrialization.
Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Zhang Lizhong, praised the Uganda–China partnership and reaffirmed China’s commitment to Uganda’s transformation through infrastructure development.
“In China, we say: ‘To be rich, build a road first.’ This road is more than a path; it’s a promise. Chinese firms are not just building roads; they are training Ugandans and supporting transformation,” he said.
The road is expected to be completed within 24 months and will significantly reduce travel time from Lira to Kampala to under four hours, down from six or more, positioning it as a crucial economic corridor for Northern, Central, and Northeastern Uganda.
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