Kampala Signs €250M Deal with UK Firm COLAS to Upgrade 118 Roads: What It Means for the Capital
Kampala, Uganda – The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has entered into a €250 million agreement with UK-based infrastructure firm COLAS to rehabilitate and upgrade over 118 roads across all five divisions of Kampala.
The Kampala City Roads and Bridges Upgrading Project (KCRBUP) will be fully funded by UK Export Finance (UKEF) and is expected to roll out over four years. It covers Central Division (54 roads), Nakawa (27), Kawempe (15), Makindye (14), and Rubaga (8).
What’s Planned
Full road rehabilitation (including resurfacing) and upgrading
Construction of modern walkways, improved drainage systems
Solar street lighting installations
Landscaping to beautify road corridors
Three modern pedestrian bridges at strategic spots: Uganda Management Institute along Jinja Road; Kawempe Hospital; and Queensway along Entebbe Road
Why It Matters
Improving daily life: Many roads in Kampala are riddled with potholes, flooding during rain, and poor lighting, which affects safety, traffic, and commerce. This upgrade could reduce travel times and accidents.
Environmental and sustainability angle: Use of solar street lighting, improved drainage, and low-carbon/modern technologies in construction are part of commitments to making the city more resilient.
Equity across divisions: By covering all divisions, including some suburbs, there is potential for more balanced infrastructure development.
Challenges & Caveats
Timely execution: projects of this scale have in Uganda sometimes faced delays due to land acquisition, compensation, contractor issues.
Maintenance: Upgrading is one step; sustaining road quality (drainage cleaning, repairs) afterwards is often underfunded.
Disruption during works: traffic, business access etc will be affected—local communication and planning will be critical.
Local Voices & Expectations
Residents along some of the targeted roads have long complained about flooding during rains, traffic jams, and poor footpaths. Business owners especially in Nakawa and Kawempe say bad roads discourage customers and increase vehicle maintenance costs.
KCCA officials promise better safety, cleaner gutters, and more reliable routes, especially for ambulances, buses, and pedestrians.
Implications
If successful, this project could serve as a model for other urban infrastructure efforts in Uganda.
May attract more foreign investment if Kampala shows capacity to deliver large-scale, quality public works.
Potential boost to employment during construction and related service industries.
This €250 million deal with COLAS represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure pledges Kampala has seen in recent years. If implementation is efficient and transparent, Kampala’s streets—literally—could be transformed. The real test will be in meeting deadlines, managing costs, and maintaining the improvements over time.
