Kampala–Jinja Highway suspended over major government funding shortfall

• Uganda’s critical infrastructure development is in jeopardy after the government suspended major road projects—including the vital Kampala–Jinja Highway—due to funding constraints. 
• Minister for Works and Transport Gen. Katumba Wamala revealed in Parliament that only UGX 462 billion of the UGX 1.3 trillion required has been disbursed, forcing over 27 ongoing road projects to halt.
  

Critical works on several key road projects including the much anticipated Kampala–Jinja Highway have been suspended by the government. This is due to a major funding shortfall. This has now raised fresh concerns about the country’s road infrastructure and economic connectivity.

This was revealed by the Minister for Works and Transport, General Katumba Wamala during a Parliamentary session. Katumba pointed out that only UGX 462 billion of the UGX 1.3 trillion needed to pay contractors for ongoing road works, has been released. This is less than half the required amount.

“Even many of the contracts are not running because we owe all contractors money,” said General Katumba, expressing how the financial strain has stalled operations across the country.

It should be noted that the Kampala–Jinja Highway which is one of Uganda’s busiest and most economically strategic roads is also among the most affected. Its suspension now threatens to disrupt trade and transportation between Kampala and eastern Uganda as well as the link to the Kenyan border and the port of Mombasa.

According to Gen. Katumba, a total 27 road projects have been affected by this financing shortfall. The other stalled roads he mentioned include Mubende–Kyenjojo–Mityana, Najanankumbi–Busabala, and Moroto–Lokitanyala.

The Minister also voted that Uganda currently has a road network covering 21,292 kilometers with only 6,912 kilometers being paved.

This leaves almost 15,000 kilometers unpaved and therefore prone to further degradation if maintenance and upgrades continue to be delayed.

Meanwhile the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among added that the government will need UGX 3.156 trillion in the 2025/2026 financial year to complete the targeted projects. However, only UGX 682 billion has so far been gotten leaving a huge void.

“This sustained underinvestment has led to stalling of ongoing projects, accumulation of debt, and a worsening road network,” warned Gen. Katumba.

MPs expressed frustration during the session including Bukimbiri County MP Edwin Kwizera who questioned whether the government was admitting failure by not adequately funding key infrastructure.

Furthermore, the absence of the Finance Minister, Hon. Matia Kasaija during this particular session left MPs without a clear explanation or action plan. The Speaker however pushed this discussion to the next plenary session on Tuesday.