Africa-Press – Uganda. President Museveni has officially commissioned the construction of the Kayunga–Bbaale–Galiraya Road, a vital infrastructure project that is set to reshape the economic landscape of Central, Northern, and Northeastern Uganda.
The event, which took place today, was attended by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni.
This ambitious road project, to be constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) at a cost of Shs213.9 billion ($57 million), is being financed upfront by the contractor, with the government set to begin payments after two years. The Ministry of Works and Transport will supervise the works in-house.
At 87 kilometers, the new road will serve as a critical link between Amolatar in the Lango sub-region and Kampala, drastically reducing travel distances and opening up new economic opportunities.
Once completed in 24 months, the road will reduce travel times by half, providing a more efficient route from Northern Uganda to Central Uganda.
The Kayunga–Galiraya Road is more than just an infrastructure project; it is a bridge connecting communities, businesses, and agricultural value chains across the region.
The road will eliminate the need for ferry crossings over Lake Kyoga, significantly lowering transport costs and boosting trade, agriculture, and fisheries.
President Museveni highlighted the strategic importance of the road, emphasizing how it will shorten the journey from Northern Uganda to Kampala.
He said, “From Amolatar, through Kayunga, it’s around 100 miles to Kampala. If you go the long way around Lake Kyoga via Karuma and Soroti, you end up doing about 200 miles. That’s why this road is very important.”
The president also praised the residents of Kayunga for their patriotism and selflessness in supporting the project.
“You have said give us the road; we won’t charge for the land. That’s clever and patriotic,” he said, noting that the land donation had saved the government about Shs76 billion, nearly a third of the project’s cost.
President Museveni also reminded the community of the importance of wealth creation at the household level.
“You don’t sleep on the road; you sleep in your house,” he said, urging residents to focus on creating wealth and improving their living standards alongside benefiting from the new infrastructure.
In addition to the roadworks, the government will construct a ferry landing site at Galiraya (Kawongo) to support cross-lake transportation. There are also plans to develop town roads in the future to enhance local connectivity.
Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, described the groundbreaking as a turning point in Uganda’s infrastructure journey. He emphasized the project’s goals: reducing travel time, lowering vehicle operating costs, improving access to social and economic services, and unlocking oil and gas exploration zones in the Kyoga Basin.
“Once completed with the ferry connection in place, travel from Lira to Kampala will take less than four hours, down from six or more. This makes access to key economic hubs like Namanve Industrial Park and Jinja seamless for our people in the North,” Gen. Katumba said.
The minister commended local leaders and communities for voluntarily offering land without compensation, underscoring their role in driving national progress.
He assured the public that the project would be supervised closely to ensure timely delivery without cost overruns.
Amos Lugoloobi, Minister of State for Planning, hailed the development as the fulfillment of a 30-year-old dream for the people of Kayunga.
He noted that the road would improve access to markets, schools, hospitals, and job opportunities, particularly for the youth. He also promised that the project would align with national planning goals, fostering agriculture, services, and industrial growth in the region.
“This road is not just tarmac, it is a tool for transforming lives,” he said. “The people of Kayunga will remember you for generations to come.”
The Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong, commended the partnership between Uganda and China, emphasizing that infrastructure development is the backbone of prosperity. He said, “In China, we have a saying: ‘To be rich, build a road first.’ We appreciate that Uganda has embraced this principle.”
Ambassador Zhang reaffirmed China’s commitment to Uganda’s development, highlighting the long-standing cooperation between the two countries, which marks 25 years this year. “The fruits of this friendship are evident, and we are proud to be part of Uganda’s infrastructure story,” he concluded.
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