The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved an extra €217.37 million (shs 891.2 billion) to support the Multinational Busega–Mpigi and Kagitumba–Kayonza–Rusumo Roads Project, in a major boost to Uganda and Rwanda’s joint efforts to enhance regional integration and trade.
The new funding will facilitate the construction of interchanges, bridges, toll plazas, and service lanes, including the long-awaited Busega Interchange, which will link the Kampala–Mpigi Expressway to the Northern Bypass.
These works aim to ease the persistent traffic congestion between Busega and Mpigi a critical choke point along the Northern Corridor connecting Kampala to Kigali.
Part of the funds will go toward land compensation, project management, and capacity strengthening for Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport to ensure smooth delivery following institutional restructuring.
Once complete, the 27.3-kilometre expressway is expected to cut travel time from over two hours to under 45 minutes, improving mobility for over one million people living and trading between Busega and Mpigi.
The total cost of the Uganda section has now risen to €424.61 million from the initial €176.26 million due to expanded works.
The AfDB’s new financing package includes an ADB loan of €188.18 million, an ADF loan of €28.31 million, and a NEPAD IPPF grant of $1 million, while the Government of Uganda will contribute €30.98 million.
Additional works will include seven bridges and 54 kilometres of lined drainage channels.
The project will create over 1,200 jobs 800 during construction and 400 during operation with at least 30% of opportunities reserved for women and youth. Local women will also benefit from entrepreneurship and skills training programs linked to roadside businesses.
“This project is more than a road; it is a lifeline for communities and a gateway for trade,” said George Makajuma, the Bank’s Principal Transport Engineer and project task manager.
“The additional financing ensures that the Busega–Mpigi Expressway delivers safer, faster, and more inclusive transport for millions, unlocking the region’s economic potential.”
With construction under the additional financing set to begin in January 2026 and conclude by December 2029, the full completion of the project is expected by 2030.
The initiative aligns with Uganda’s ongoing infrastructure investment drive to enhance economic growth, competitiveness, and regional trade.
The Busega-Mpigi Expressway is multinational with Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, whose works started in 2020.
