President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday launched the Shs295 billion Kampala Flyover Project at Nakivubo Blue Primary school. The project is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Speaking to guests who included ministers and Japanese among others, Museveni said his government has accomplished tarmacking many road projects, connecting to most border points such as Katuna, Mutukula and other border points. He said government is funding the construction of Mbale-Manafwa-Lwakhakha road on the border with Kenya.
Museveni time has come to modernize Uganda’s roads, with the help of Chinese and Japanese governments. He said government would also do roads in big towns like Jinja, Mbale, Mbarara and Gulu.
He said the Kampala flyover project will serve those who do business in Kampala as well as passengers on long journeys that pass through Kampala. The project he said, will also serve truckers. He said government would also expand the section of the road from Busega to Kibuye.
The president said the government wants truckers who carry cargo to use the planned standard gauge railway instead of using roads which should be for light vehicles. He said water transport is to be improved to serve traders as they export and import merchandise.
He said government in the near future wants to introduce vehicles which carry more people around the city. He hinted that taxis and Bodaboda numbers will phase out in the future and urged them to plan accordingly as government modernizes transportation.
Museveni appreciated Japan for the assistance it renders to Uganda but at the same time said Uganda has been a trading partner with the Japanese, buying its products such as Toyota vehicles. “I want to thank the Japan government for helping us not only with the Kampala Flyover project but other projects like the source of the Nile Bridge,” he said.
The technology to be used in this project is one that conforms to the international standards, said UNRA Board Chairman Fred Jachan Omach.
The completion of the first phase at Clock-Tower section is expected by 2021. Phase two will see flyovers at Kitgum round about on Jinja Road.
But Phase two of the Kampala Flyover Project, whose funding and design is being finalized, will be part of the Kampala-Jinja Expressway and will start at Lugogo and end with flyovers at Kitgum house roundabout. The project is to be carried out by Japan’s Shimizu-Konoike JV as the contractor.
A flyover at Clock-Tower Junction will see the expansion of Queens Way and upgrading Mukwano road that will cater for new Kibuli and Nsambya-Gaba junctions all the way to Kitgum round-about.
The 3.5km Kampala flyover project will be funded partly by the Government of Uganda with support from the Government of Japan through Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA). The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) will be heavily involved.