KCCA and World Bank advance talks for Kampala’s first Bus Rapid Transit corridor
Kampala , Uganda
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and an advance team from the World Bank have begun preliminary discussions to fund and design a 14-kilometre Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor. Officials describe this as the city’s first major step toward a modern mass-transit network. If successfully developed, this corridor could eventually form part of a larger 45-kilometre system linking the wider metropolitan region.
KCCA engineers said the proposed route would run from City Square through major traffic nodes toward Banda, Kalerwe and Kibuye. The plan includes priority lanes and dedicated stations for rapid boarding, aimed at cutting travel times across congested routes. City planners envision the BRT as part of an integrated urban mobility and infrastructure upgrade — working in tandem with road rehabilitation, improved drainage and broader transit reforms under Kampala’s recently unveiled five-year strategic plan.
World Bank representatives described the engagement as a feasibility phase focused on corridor design, financing options including concessional lending, and assessment of land-use and resettlement where needed. The discussions remain preliminary and any formal financing will depend on detailed studies and public consultations.
Why it matters:
A functioning BRT network could significantly reduce gridlock, shorten commute times, cut transportation costs for thousands of residents, and improve air quality across Kampala. The involvement of the World Bank raises hopes for concessional financing and adherence to international technical standards, essential for the scale and sustainability of the project. How the city designs the corridor — routing, station placement, integration with existing matatus and future rail — will shape whether this becomes a transformative mobility solution or merely another addition to Kampala’s infrastructure.
What to watch:
Watch for publication of the full feasibility study and an environmental and social safeguards report. The start of public consultations and negotiations with minibus (matatu) operators and affected communities will be telling of how inclusive the process will be. And finally, a formal financing commitment or loan approval from the World Bank and partner agencies will mark the project’s real take-off.
