KAMPALA — Road contractors dragging their feet in Uganda have hit a major roadblock. The government has declared that no company will be considered for new road contracts unless it has completed at least 75% of its current projects.
The new directive, delivered by State Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs Kabuye Kyofatogabye, came at the close of a workshop on the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program (GKMA-UDP) held at Skyz Hotel, Naguru.
“There’s no law stopping us from giving more contracts,” Kyofatogabye admitted, “but we need to ensure contractors have the capacity to deliver.”
This policy shift comes on the heels of rising concern over chronic delays plaguing city infrastructure projects—many of which are funded by the World Bank.
The Cabinet has greenlit the move to improve performance and instil accountability among contractors.
The new threshold: no contractor can bid for new work unless their ongoing project is at least 75% complete.
That level, according to the minister, typically leaves only drainage and finishing touches outstanding—ensuring they’re not overwhelmed with multiple, half-done jobs.
This isn’t just policy—it’s pressure backed by top leadership.
Back in March, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja expressed her dissatisfaction over stalled works, especially the long-delayed Salama-Munyonyo road.
Her message was blunt: miss deadlines, lose contracts. The statement came shortly after President Museveni’s site inspection in 2023.
“We can’t allow unserious contractors,” she warned. “Kampala must shine with good roads.”
As for GKMA-UDP progress, Kyofatogabye was cautiously optimistic. So far, 149km out of 200km have been contracted. Another 50km are currently out for bidding. By September 2025, Uganda expects most of the planned road works to be completed or under construction.
“By 2027, we aim to have delivered everything,” he emphasized, noting the mid-term review is set to begin soon.
Still, it hasn’t all been smooth. A full year was spent reviewing designs and battling right-of-way challenges—mainly due to insufficient funds for compensating affected landowners.
This caused the ministry to miss its January 2025 groundbreaking target.
However, the outlook is bright. As of now, 98% of right-of-way acquisition is complete, and physical construction is expected to begin in earnest by June 1.
The GKMA-UDP, launched in March 2020, is a massive $566 million (approx. UGX 2.1 trillion) infrastructure drive.
Backed by a $518 million loan and $48 million grant from the World Bank, along with a €42.66 million (UGX 156.4 billion) loan from Agence Française de Développement, the program is designed to overhaul urban infrastructure across Kampala and its sprawling suburbs.
The project spans nine local governments, including Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the districts of Wakiso, Mukono, and Mpigi. Municipal authorities of Kira, Nansana, Makindye Ssabagabo, Mukono, and Entebbe are also on board.
The GKMA-UDP operates under a “program for results” model, which ties funding to achieved outcomes—demanding tight fiscal discipline and top-tier management of public resources.
The message is clear: do the work, or lose the opportunity. Uganda’s roads—and its taxpayers—deserve better.
