David Ssali Luyimbazi is from Luwero District, Katikamu county and sub-county, Busula village. His late grand father was called Mwami Chrysostom Lule Kafero and his father is called Mr. Mwami Chrysostom Ssali Lule. He is of the Nkima clan in Buganda Kingdom.
By way of training, he has an Undergraduate Degree in Civil Engineering from Makerere University (Upper Second degree). He also holds a Master of Science in Highway Management & Engineering with Distinction from the University of Birmingham (UK) where he earned the J. Kolbusweki Prize as best student. As part of his research at master’s level, he developed a framework for multi-criteria analysis in the Highway Development and Management Model of the World Bank used project investment appraisal. David further holds a Master of Science in Major Programme Management from the University of Oxford (UK). The University of Oxford is the highest graded University in the world and its highly selective in the applicants it admits with less than 5% making it to admission.
This is testament to the technical and academic aptitude Eng. Luyimbazi possesses to get admitted in this highly coveted university to pursue one of the most prestigious courses in infrastructure management. The course he studied pertains to Major Programmes whose features are that they are large scale, transformational, involve multiple stakeholders, complex ventures and impact millions of people (same as the challenges Kampala Capital City Authority possesses) . As such, it calls for a different skill set and experience background to successfully manage a Major Programme akin to a situation where you need a jumbo jet pilot license and not a mere car driver’s license to partake.
Government has over the years also invested substantially in David’s specialization by funding him to attend numerous professional development courses in contract management, public private partnerships, innovative project financing, etc.
David joined the Ministry of Works and Transport over 20 years back in 1996 as a pupil engineer and grew through the ranks to the position of Principal Engineer around 2003. He was seconded to join the Road Agency Formation Unit (RAFU) of the Ministry in 2005 as a Senior Project Engineer, a position he held until April 2008. In April 2008, he was appointed the Director of Planning in UNRA and he held this position until June 2015 when his contract was ended.
As Director of Planning, his primary responsibilities were to (i) Initiate projects, prepare plans and designs for all highway and bridge projects in UNRA; (ii) facilitate the financing of all development projects, (iii) manage the compensation of persons affected for road works on all road projects; (iii) monitor and report progress of all UNRA activities.
From the foregoing, as Director Planning, he had to be involved in every project especially the initiation and planning. This explains his central role especially in the early times for each of the UNRA development projects whereby he had a role in the preparation of all projects as guided by the NRM Manifesto.
Figure 1 – Project Cycle
It is evident from his employment under the Ministry of works, that Government provided him a platform to specialize in planning transport projects, designing highways, investment appraisal of projects, preparation of multi-year transport plans, public private partnerships, managing large programmes etc. He possesses skills that one can confidently say right now very few Ugandans possess including experience and exposure.
As a testament to the work he did while in UNRA, by the time he left the organization, the following are some of the other major achievements as a direct result of my role as Director Planning: –
• Spearheaded the design of 2,400 km of roads for Upgrading from gravel to tarmac and 441 km for old paved roads for reconstruction;
• Spearheaded the designs of major flagship projects that include Kampala – Entebbe Expressway (52 km), Kampala – Jinja Expressway (75 km), Kampala – Bombo Expressway (35 km), Kampala – Mpigi Expressway (40 km), Southern Bypass (15 km), Outer Beltway (40 km), Kampala Flyovers (15 km)and the Very Very Important Persons (VVIP) Route (25 km);
• He also spearheaded the preparation and design for the New Nile Bridge at Jinja as well as Karuma and Masindi Port Bridges;
• He spearheaded the preparation, financing and contracting for the 1st Expressway Project in Uganda (Kampala – Entebbe Expressway) and the 1st Cable Stayed Bridge in Uganda (New Nile Bridge); etc all totaling US$ 600 million;
• In liaison with the Finance Ministry and Development Partners (World Bank, African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, JICA, China EXIM Bank, BADEA, Islamic Development Bank, European Union, Trademark East Africa, etc.), he spearheaded the UNRA team that supported the negotiation of loan agreements up to the tune of US$ 2.0 Billion for various road and bridge projects.
• He is conversant with traditional concessional financing from multilateral development institutions like the World Bank, African Development Bank, European Union, etc; non – traditional financing from export financing agencies like China Exim Bank; private financing using public – private partnerships; innovative financing models like blending loans and grants; etc.
FACTFILE
• Parents: Mr. Ssali Lule and Elizabeth Nalunkuuma Ssali Lule (RIP) of Makerere Kavule.
• Education: Makerere College School (O and A-level);
• Makerere University (civil engineering).
• Masters in Highway Management and Engineering (University of Birmingham).
• Master of science in Major Programme Management (University of Oxford).
Work Experience:
• Victoria Construction Company,
• Kagga and Partners,
• Ministry of Works and Transport
• Uganda National Roads Authority
• Basic Group Limited
Having left UNRA four years ago, Eng Luyimbazi is the CEO of Basic Group Limited, a multi-disciplinary company with offerings that span engineering, construction, real estate, manufacturing, energy, oil & gas, agriculture, education, commodities trading, technology and financial services.
He has been the Deputy Project Manager of the Owner’s Engineer on the project for construction of infrastructure for the Kampala Industrial Business Park where Basic Group Ltd is in a consortium with Joadah Consultants, Turner & Townsend and Roughton International Ltd.
