Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has signed a €250 million agreement with UK-based infrastructure giant COLAS to upgrade roads and bridges across the city. The project, funded by UK Export Finance (UKEF), will rehabilitate and modernize over 118 roads in all five divisions of Kampala over a four-year period.
The Kampala City Roads and Bridges Upgrading Project (KCRBUP) is expected to transform the city’s transport network, improve drainage, ease traffic congestion, and enhance pedestrian safety with new walkways, solar street lights, and landscaping.
Central Division will see the most extensive upgrades with 54 roads, followed by Nakawa (27), Kawempe (15), Makindye (14), and Rubaga (8). The project also includes the construction of three pedestrian bridges at Uganda Management Institute (Jinja Road), Kawempe Hospital, and Queensway (Entebbe Road).
“The partnership is a step toward transforming Kampala into a resilient, livable, and sustainable city,” said KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki. “Our residents deserve safe, accessible, and beautiful roads, and this project brings that vision to life.”
The agreement was signed at City Hall on Thursday in the presence of Minister for Kampala Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, State Minister Kabuye Kyofatogabye, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, and Deputy British High Commissioner to Uganda Tiffany Kirlew.
Lord Mayor Lukwago welcomed the development, calling it “a great moment for Kampala,” adding, “We are not doing well in terms of mobility, and this will significantly improve the city’s infrastructure.”
The contract emphasizes local content, with 40% of the work to be subcontracted to Ugandan firms and the majority of construction materials sourced locally. Officials estimate 200–300 jobs will be created directly, offering employment opportunities for Ugandans across the divisions.
Minister Kabanda emphasized accountability and urged strict supervision. “We must ensure Ugandans benefit directly from this investment,” she said.
The project complements KCCA’s ongoing infrastructure initiatives, including the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project (70 km) and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (81 km). Together, these efforts aim to revamp the city’s mobility network and stormwater systems.
The Deputy British High Commissioner, Tiffany Kirlew, noted that this is the sixth major UKEF-backed infrastructure project in Uganda and the second for COLAS in the last eight years. “At financial close, the total UKEF portfolio with Uganda will exceed $1 billion. This demonstrates the UK’s long-term commitment to supporting Uganda’s development,” she said.
COLAS, which operates in more than 50 countries and reports an annual turnover of €16 billion, pledged to use low-carbon construction technologies, recycle road materials, and deploy traffic-efficient systems to minimize disruption.
COLAS Country Manager Eng. Lars Jensen said the company is “proud to contribute to Kampala’s transformation” and promised strict adherence to global best practices in safety, transparency, and sustainability.
Among the roads earmarked for upgrade are Kamwokya–Mbazira Road, Mulwana Kibira Road, Katale Road, Mulago Church Road, and Katoogo Road. In Makindye, residents will see improvements on Junju Road, Buziga Islamic Road, Kansanga Kiwafu Road, and Tank Hill Bypass, among others.
With work set to begin soon, KCCA says the long-awaited transformation of Kampala’s roads will finally take shape, bringing lasting improvements in transport, safety, and quality of urban life.
