Uganda: Work on the Busega–Mpigi Expressway is set to resume after Parliament approved a loan of 188.18 million Euros from the African Development Bank and 28.31 million Euros from the African Development Fund.
The loan, approved during the Parliament sitting on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, will provide extra funds for the construction of the 27-kilometre expressway. The motion to approve the loan was moved by the State Minister for Industry at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, David Bahati.
Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on National Economy, Robert Migadde, Member of Parliament for Buwekula County, explained that the extra funding was needed because the government signed a contract with the contractor before the final designs were ready. The original cost of 547.5 billion shillings later rose to 1.35 trillion shillings after the designs were completed.
“In addition, the original route of the project was changed and new work was added to make the expressway fully functional as a toll road. This increased the total work required,” said Migadde.
The committee report also said more money was needed because the number of people affected by the project increased after the design changes. The number of affected people went from 2,885 to 4,222, with a total value of over 167.7 billion shillings.
“Out of the 4,222 affected people, 2,585 have already been paid over 111.7 billion shillings. This leaves 1,637 people unpaid, valued at more than 5 billion shillings,” Migadde added.
To avoid delays, the committee recommended that the Ministry of Works and Transport make sure the contractor starts work in areas where there are no land issues.
However, a minority report from Charles Tebandeke, MP for Bbale County, and Hassan Kirumira, MP for Katikamu County South, asked Parliament to delay the loan approval until the government carries out a new valuation of compensation for all affected people.
Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, MP for Butambala County, also warned Parliament not to approve the loan before knowing the exact cost of the project. He said the cost seemed very high. “What justification does the government have to build a kilometre at 14 million dollars? Parliament should be careful,” he said.
Ibrahim Ssemujju, MP for Kira Municipality, said the project must be finished quickly because traffic on the Busega–Mpigi road is very bad.
“I am worried that the expressway has been delayed. I will do everything I can to help finish it. I usually do not support loans, but for this project we need the government to commit, and we can check the rest later,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, Member of Parliament for Kabarole Municipality, said completing the project is very important. He asked the Minister of Works and Transport to ensure the road connects to the Kampala–Entebbe Expressway, Ndeeba, Mityana, and the Northern Bypass.
The Minister of Works and Transport, Edward Katumba Wamala, said the new design includes extra roads linking Mityana and Kasangi. “There will be a big interchange at Kyengera that will connect the Entebbe Expressway, Mityana, and the Northern Bypass. This is part of why we need more funds,” he said.
He added that the updated work will include four toll gates and several bridges that were not in the original plan. “I want to assure Parliament that all issues raised will be handled. The money spent will be recovered because the road will operate as a toll road,” he said.
The Busega–Mpigi Expressway is part of a regional project involving Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Work on the project started in 2020.
