President Museveni grabbed a shovel and kicked off construction for the massive Kayunga-Bbaale-Galiraya highway project yesterday. The Chinese contractors from China Road and Bridge Corporation will build the 87-kilometer stretch for a whopping 213.9 billion shillings. First Lady Janet Museveni watched her husband launch the ambitious road that promises to slash travel times across three regions. The government struck a sweet deal where payments start rolling out only after two years while construction begins immediately. Local residents shocked officials by refusing compensation money and donating their land for free instead.
The new highway will transform how people move between Central, Northern and Northeastern Uganda when crews finish the job within 24 months. Travelers from Amolatar district will cut their journey to Kampala nearly in half once the tarmac opens for business. The route relies on ferry crossings over Lake Kyoga but still beats the current detour around the massive lake by hundreds of kilometers. Agriculture and fishing communities expect major economic boosts from cheaper transport costs and better market access. The strategic corridor will connect oil exploration zones while reducing vehicle wear and fuel expenses for everyone.
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Lizhong praised the partnership between both nations as construction machinery rumbled to life around the ceremony site. Works Minister Katumba Wamala promised tight supervision to prevent delays and cost overruns that plague other infrastructure projects. Local leaders celebrated the fulfillment of a three-decade dream that residents had almost given up achieving.
The new highway will transform how people move between Central, Northern and Northeastern Uganda when crews finish the job within 24 months. Travelers from Amolatar district will cut their journey to Kampala nearly in half once the tarmac opens for business. The route relies on ferry crossings over Lake Kyoga but still beats the current detour around the massive lake by hundreds of kilometers. Agriculture and fishing communities expect major economic boosts from cheaper transport costs and better market access. The strategic corridor will connect oil exploration zones while reducing vehicle wear and fuel expenses for everyone.
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Lizhong praised the partnership between both nations as construction machinery rumbled to life around the ceremony site. Works Minister Katumba Wamala promised tight supervision to prevent delays and cost overruns that plague other infrastructure projects. Local leaders celebrated the fulfillment of a three-decade dream that residents had almost given up achieving.
