Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago Flags Off Construction of 19.85Km Road Network Under GKMA-UDP
During the ceremony, Lord Mayor Lukwago described the occasion as a historic moment, highlighting the significance of executing a project conceived in a 2017 report. The study had recommended shifting the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) from merely a regulatory body to an active enabler of urban development. He urged the contractors to use the report as a guiding tool in implementing the project to ensure that the objectives of the study are fully realized.
Kampala’s Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, today officiated at the signing ceremony for Batch 1 contracts under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program (GKMA-UDP).
This phase will oversee the construction of 19.85 kilometers of road network across the five divisions of the city, marking a major milestone in the city's infrastructural transformation.
During the ceremony, Lord Mayor Lukwago described the occasion as a historic moment, highlighting the significance of executing a project conceived in a 2017 report. The study had recommended shifting the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) from merely a regulatory body to an active enabler of urban development. He urged the contractors to use the report as a guiding tool in implementing the project to ensure that the objectives of the study are fully realized.
Lukwago emphasized the critical challenge of road infrastructure in Kampala, pointing out that out of the city's 2,100-kilometer road network, only 770 kilometers are paved. This deficit has led to congestion, poor drainage, and increased costs of transport. He called upon the contractors to adhere to high construction standards to ensure value for money, urging them to complete the works within the stipulated time frame.
KCCA Executive Director, Sharifah Buzeki, echoed similar sentiments, reminding the contractors that the GKMA-UDP is a results-oriented project where funding is performance-based.
She tasked the KCCA technical team with ensuring the works are implemented effectively and completed within the scheduled 18-month timeframe.
State Minister for Kampala, Hon. Kabuye Kyofatogabye while officiating at the event, commended the integration of local content in the project.
He urged local contractors to step up their performance to enhance their chances of securing similar opportunities in the future. Strengthening local capacity, he noted, is crucial in ensuring long-term sustainability and economic benefits for Ugandan firms.
The GKMA-UDP, financed by the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD), is a crucial intervention aimed at modernizing Kampala’s road infrastructure. The program is set to construct a total of 74.5 kilometers of roads within the city, significantly improving mobility, reducing travel time, and enhancing the city’s overall urban landscape.
This development aligns with broader efforts to enhance infrastructure in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, a key economic hub for Uganda. The new roads are expected to ease traffic congestion, promote economic growth, and improve the quality of life for city residents.
As construction kicks off, all eyes will be on the contractors to ensure timely delivery and adherence to quality standards, marking a transformative phase for Kampala’s road network under the GKMA-UDP initiative.
