UNRA: 41 acres of land acquired so far for Kampala Northern Bypass works

Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | A total of 41 acres have been acquired by Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) in the expansion of Kampala Northern Bypass. According to the design of the bypass, UNRA is set to acquire 54 acres in total.

During an inspection tour of the 21km bypass by UNRA and the European Union (EU) on Dec.6. Jude Tadieus Kyobe, the Resident Project Engineer of the Bypass said UNRA will hand over the Busega- Bwaise section of the bypass under expansion in October 2019.

The current expansion of the Kampala Northern Bypass is the second phase of the highway construction project following the completion of the first phase in October 2009. The project is jointly funded by the government of Uganda and the EU through a EUR40million ($4million) grant blended with another loan from the European Investment Bank.

Allen Kagina, UNRA Executive Director, Attilio Pacifici Head of EU Delegation and Sam Muhoozi, the UNRA Director of Roads and Bridges led the inspection of progress of works on the capacity improvement of the Bypass.

William Matovu, UNRA Head of Land Acquisition, said there is a problem of stubborn landlords who may not want to pave way for expansion works and thus causing delays on the works. He also said speculators on land which falls in the expansion plan has been subject to a lot of document fabrication.

Meanwhile Pacifici hailed the bypass as the real job in Uganda’s infrastructure network saying it is what connects Uganda to the rest of the world.

The expansion of the bypass is intended to improve urban mobility in and around Kampala through a capacity increase and to relieve congestion on the vital northern corridor route. In addition it is intended to reduce travel time, vehicle operating costs and improve road safety.

Expanding the bypass entails construction of an additional carriageway, approximately 17.5km long to complete the dualisation of the bypass to a 4-lane dual carriageway road. Also, the construction of 3 new footbridges at Kyebando, Ntinda and Naalya for safe passage of pedestrians.

UNRA is also working on the construction of 6 new grade separated interchanges at Sentema, Hoima, Gayaza, Bukoto-Kyebando, Ntinda and Naalya Roads. These are intended to separate the express traffic along the bypass from the adjoining traffic from Hoima Road, Kampala-Gayaza Road and the like.

William Matovu, UNRA’s Head of Land Aquisition briefing a high level inspection team earlier today comprising @Gen_wamala , @APacificiEU, Hon. Matia Kasaija @mofpedU on the progress achieved in securing the right of way along the Kampala Northern Bypass project. #UNRAworks pic.twitter.com/WUei24Wz6S

— UNRA_UGANDA (@UNRA_UG) December 6, 2018

High level visit to assess progress of works on expansion of #EU-GoU co-funded Kampala Northern Bypass. EU Ambassador @APacificiEU joined by @mofpedU Minister Matia Kasaija @MoWT_Uganda State Minister @Gen_wamala, @UNRA_UG ED @UNRA_ED and contractor @motaengil pic.twitter.com/o51dAAGbU7

— EU in Uganda (@EUinUG) December 6, 2018