The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has provided an update on the Tororo-Kamdini road project, stating that approximately 50% of the work is expected to be completed by October 31, 2024. This road, part of the North Eastern Road Corridor, will connect the Kenyan border of Malaba through Tororo to the northern and northwestern borders of South Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The project aims to improve transportation of goods and services for the public.
The North Eastern Road Corridor Asset Management Project (NERAMP) oversees the reconstruction, employing a performance-based road contract model, a first-of-its-kind pilot project in Uganda. The World Bank is co-funding 96% of the project, with the Ugandan government contributing the remaining 4%. The 340-kilometer project has been awarded to the Portuguese firm Mota-Engil Africa.
Eng Jackson Nawaswa, the contract manager, reported that the road’s design phase is complete, and construction began in November 2022. Currently, 20% of the overall project is finished, with 20 kilometers of pavement completed on the Lira-Kamdini stretch. The contractor is fully mobilized, and the goal is to have the new road pavement in place by October 31, 2024, covering the section from Soroti through Lira to Kamdini.
Ms. Josephine Omara Olili, the Resident District Commissioner of Kole, where the road passes, commended the government for the initiative. She emphasized the positive impact on farmers, enabling easier access to markets such as Kampala City, Juba, and DR Congo. Despite improvements, she urged caution among road users, emphasizing adherence to road signs and safe driving practices.
