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Add to Preferred SourcesAfter a long-running delay, the Uganda Government has eventually invited bids from private investors to develop and operate the planned 95 Km Kampala-Jinja Expressway.
The Kampala-Jinja Expressway project worth USD 1 billion is part of the northern trade corridor that connects the Kenyan Coast of Mombasa to the Landlocked countries in East Africa including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group is the head Transaction Advisor for the project.
The planned roadway comprises of two separate lots. Lot 1 to be the 35 km section from Kampala to Namagunga and an 18 km Kampala Southern bypass while Lot 2 will run from Namagunga to Jinja covering the distance of 41 kms.
Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) published a tender notice which stated that the investors will design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer the project back to the government upon the end of the operational period.
“The objective of the project is to enhance regional integration, stimulate trade and industry, boost economic growth, enhance foreign direct investment and improve trade between Uganda and neighboring countries,” the agency noted.
Adding further, the notice cited that the government plans to improve efficient passenger and freight operations, enhance mobility, diminish travel times, vehicle operating costs and accident rates as well as boost commercial viability of Greater Kampala Metropolitan areas and industrial zones of Kampala, Namanve and Jinja.
The investors who expressed their interest to finance the project are the European Union (EU), the French Development Agency (AFD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Original source: The Independent
Published on 28 May 2018