The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved an additional €217.37 million (about Shs872 billion) for the Multinational Busega–Mpigi and Kagitumba–Kayonza–Rusumo Roads Project, reinforcing Uganda’s and Rwanda’s shared goal of enhancing regional connectivity and trade.
The new funding will finance the construction of interchanges, bridges, toll plazas, and service lanes, including the Busega Interchange, which will link the expressway to the Northern Bypass. These upgrades aim to ease chronic traffic congestion between Busega and Mpigi, a key bottleneck along the Northern Corridor connecting Kampala to Kigali.
The funds will also cater for land compensation, project management, and capacity-building support for Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport following its recent institutional restructuring.
When completed, the 27.3-kilometre expressway will reduce travel time from over two hours to less than 45 minutes, improving access to markets and social services for more than one million residents and traders in Busega, Mpigi, and neighbouring communities.
The total cost of the upgraded Uganda section now stands at €424.61 million, up from the original €176.26 million, due to an expanded project scope. The AfDB Group will provide €217.37 million, including an ADB loan of €188.18 million, an ADF loan of €28.31 million, and a NEPAD IPPF grant of $1 million, while the Government of Uganda will contribute €30.98 million.
Additional works include seven new bridges and 54 kilometres of lined drainage channels. The project is expected to create over 1,200 jobs, 800 during construction and 400 during operations, with at least 30% reserved for women and youth. It will also support women’s empowerment through entrepreneurship and skills development programmes linked to roadside businesses.
“This project is more than a road; it is a lifeline for communities and a gateway for trade,” said George Makajuma, the Bank’s Principal Transport Engineer and Project Task Manager. “The additional financing ensures that the Busega–Mpigi Expressway delivers safer, faster, and more inclusive transport for millions, unlocking the region’s economic potential.”
The Board’s approval comes as Uganda continues to invest heavily in infrastructure to boost economic growth and regional competitiveness. Once completed, the expressway will reduce travel time, lower transport costs, and enhance trade and job creation.
Construction under the additional financing will start in early January 2026 and is expected to conclude by December 2029, with full project completion anticipated in 2030.
