Northern Bypass upgrade to start next financial year

Kampala

Business people are poised to benefit from the proposed upgrade of the 21-Kilometre Kampala Northern-Bypass that will commence in the first quarter of the next financial year.

The upgrade that will last two years will be facilitated by a loan from the European Investment bank. It will involve providing interchanges at roundabouts, erecting flyovers, installing pedestrian walkways and light systems, and rectifying other faults on the road.

Offsetting traffic
Opened in 2009, the Northern Bypass—the first dual carriageway in Uganda— was constructed to relieve traffic congestion within the city centre.

Speaking to the Daily Monitor, Mr Dan Alinange, the UNRA spokesman, said the authority had secured a €60 million loan for renovating the Kampala Northern By-pass route, but was awaiting Parliament’s approval. “We are only waiting for Parliament to approve this loan and then work will start in the first quarter of the next financial year,” Mr Alinange said, adding that, “once approved, a contractor would be sought for this second phase whose duration is only 24 months.”

According to Alinange, the project was previously envisaged to start early next year but the idea was brought forward, so as to end within the specified time. “The idea of this second phase is to turn the road into a dual-carriage route from Bweyogerere (around Mandela stadium) to Busega round-about,” he said.

The affected roundabouts include Nansana, Kalerwe, Kisaasi, Ntinda and Busega; where surrounding residents and businesses will be relocated. Mr Alinange, however, said since most of the land had been acquired in the first phase, the latter involves less compensations [whose valuation is near completion] thus less costly. The second phase includes construction of the Mbarara-Kabale bypass.

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