The Physical Infrastructure Committee of Parliament has expressed its disappointment with the sluggish pace of engineering works on the multi-billion Kampala-Mpigi expressway project. The project aims to connect the capital city of Kampala with Mpigi District, alleviating traffic congestion and stimulating economic development along the crucial Kampala-Masaka highway.
On Tuesday, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa led a delegation of MPs from the Physical Infrastructure and National Economy committees on an inspection of the ongoing construction works at Katonga Bridge and the Mpigi-Busega Expressway road.
Tayebwa, alongside the current Chairman of the National Economy Committee, John Bosco Ikojo, expressed their dismay at the project’s progress.
“I and the current Chairman of the National Economy strongly participated in the approval of the funding for the Mpigi-Busega Expressway project back in June 2016. At that time, we expected it to be completed within three years. By 2021, it should have been commissioned. However, here we are in 2023, and the progress is extremely slow,” Tayebwa remarked.
The 35-kilometer expressway project was awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in a joint venture with China Railway 19th Bureau Group (U) Ltd at a contract sum of Shs547.5 billion.
During a press conference in Buloba, Kyengera, Tayebwa pointed out that the delays in completing this vital road and unexplained deviations from the original plan were causing significant traffic challenges.
“We have observed that no progress has been made on the Kibuye-Busega section. Initially, the design was intended to connect Kibuye-Busega with the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway and Northern Bypass,” Tayebwa noted.
He added, “Back in 2016, we were promised that this expressway would reduce travel time from Busega to Mpigi to just 18 minutes. However, now it’s impossible to determine how long you’ll spend on that road.”
The Executive Director of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), Allen Kagina, explained to Deputy Speaker Tayebwa and the members of parliament that the delays in completing the expressway were due to a combination of geological and technical issues.
Kagina further elaborated, “The original alignment was going to interfere with the rail road, as the Kampala-Kasese rail road passes through this area. Additionally, a significant number of structures had been erected on the dry ground, and constructing an expressway in these areas would have disrupted the existing settlements. Consequently, we had to shift the project to the edge of the swamp.”