Uganda’s government has tabled a request before Parliament seeking approval to borrow an additional UGX 830 billion (about \$204 million) to finance the completion of the long-delayed Busega–Mpigi Expressway.
Presenting the proposal on Wednesday, Finance PS, Ramathan Ggoobi explained that the new funding will be sourced from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Development Fund (ADF). Ggoobi said earlier allocations for the project were not sufficient, leading to financial gaps that have contributed to construction delays.
The 23.7-kilometer, four-lane expressway is one of Uganda’s flagship infrastructure projects aimed at easing congestion on the busy Kampala–Masaka highway, a key transport route linking the capital to western and southern parts of the country, as well as neighboring Rwanda and Tanzania.
Launched in 2020, the road was initially expected to take four years to complete. However, progress has been hampered by financing shortfalls, land acquisition disputes, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which slowed construction works.
According to the Ministry of Works and Transport, once completed, the expressway will cut travel time between Busega and Mpigi from over one hour to less than 20 minutes, significantly reducing the heavy traffic burden on motorists and boosting trade along the corridor.
Minister Ggoobi assured lawmakers that government remains committed to delivering the project, citing its strategic importance to Uganda’s economic transformation agenda.
“This road is not just about easing traffic. It will enhance trade, reduce transport costs, and improve connectivity to Uganda’s major export markets,” he said.
Parliament is expected to debate and decide on the loan request in the coming days. If approved, the new financing is anticipated to accelerate works and bring the much-awaited project closer to completion.
