Kampala Launches €250M Drive to Rebuild Over 118 Roads, Bridges & Improve City Mobility
New UK-funded infrastructure initiative promises walkways, solar lights, drainage, and safer pedestrian crossings across all five divisions.
Kampala is set for a major transformation. The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has inked a €250 million deal with UK firm COLAS, backed by UK Export Finance (UKEF), to upgrade more than 118 roads and bridges across the city’s five divisions: Central, Nakawa, Kawempe, Makindye, and Rubaga. This is one of the biggest infrastructure investments the city has seen in recent years, and promises big changes in how people move, live, and interact with their urban environment.
What’s Being Upgraded
Geographic spread & scope: Central division has the largest share (54 roads), with Nakawa (27), Kawempe (15), Makindye (14), and Rubaga (8).
Key features: modern walkways, buried drainage (to reduce flooding), solar-powered street lighting, landscaping, and pedestrian bridges in high-traffic zones like Queensway (along Entebbe Road), near Kawempe Hospital, and around Uganda Management Institute.
Local involvement: At least 40% of subcontracts are reserved for local firms; many materials to be sourced locally; employment for hundreds of Ugandans.
Why It Matters
Traffic congestion has long hampered Kampala’s economic productivity and quality of life. Poor road quality, drainage issues, and weak pedestrian infrastructure exacerbate delays, accidents, and flooding.
Improved roads and walkways will not only ease movement for vehicles but also for pedestrians and informal transport (boda bodas etc.), hopefully enhancing safety.
The inclusion of solar lighting and drainage shows a concern for sustainability and resilience—hopefully fewer flood-related disruptions.
Challenges & Risks
Implementation will need strong oversight to avoid delays, cost-overruns, or corruption.
Disruption during construction (traffic detours, etc.) could temporarily worsen congestion.
Ensuring that upgrades benefit all neighborhoods equitably, including informal settlements, not just the well-off or central areas.
If everything goes as planned, this project could mark a turning point in Kampala’s urban evolution — from a city frequently choked by congestion and poor infrastructure to one where mobility, safety, and environment are taken seriously. The success will depend on transparency, maintenance, and how well the local communities are brought along.
