Tokyo, Japan — The Government of Uganda has signed the contract for the construction of the new Karuma Bridge, paving the way for works to begin in October 2026.
The agreement was signed on July 10 during a ceremony at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo, by Eng. Isaac Wani, Commissioner for National Roads at the Ministry of Works and Transport, on behalf of the Government of Uganda, and Mr Osamu Tanabe representing Zenitaka Corporation, the Japanese firm awarded the construction contract.
The contract signing followed the Ministry of Works and Transport’s issuance of a Notice of Award to Zenitaka Corporation after the company emerged as the successful bidder for the civil works.
The ceremony was witnessed by Uganda’s Solicitor General, Pius Perry Biribonwoha, and Uganda’s Ambassador to Japan, H.E. Tophace Kaahwa. The Uganda Embassy in Tokyo coordinated the event and engagements between Ugandan and Japanese officials.
Speaking during the ceremony, Eng. Wani said the new Karuma Bridge is a critical infrastructure project that will restore safe and efficient transport along the Kampala–Gulu Highway, one of Uganda’s busiest road corridors.
He noted that the bridge will enhance regional connectivity, facilitate trade and investment, improve access to essential services, and strengthen the resilience of the country’s transport network.
Eng. Wani also thanked the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for financing the project through Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Grant Aid programme. He reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to providing the necessary support to ensure the project is completed on schedule.
Ambassador Kaahwa described Japan’s continued investment in Uganda’s infrastructure as a reflection of the strong diplomatic and development partnership between the two countries. She said both nations remain committed to deepening their cooperation for mutual benefit.
Representatives of Zenitaka Corporation and Oriental Consultants Global, the project’s supervising consultants, pledged to deliver the bridge to the highest engineering standards within the agreed timeframe.
Zenitaka Corporation previously constructed the New Nile Bridge in Jinja under Japanese funding, one of Uganda’s landmark infrastructure projects.
According to the Ministry of Works and Transport, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Karuma Bridge is scheduled for September 2026, with full-scale construction expected to commence the following month.
Once completed, the bridge will replace the ageing Karuma Bridge and significantly improve the movement of people and goods along the Kampala–Gulu Highway, a vital transport corridor linking central Uganda to Northern Uganda, South Sudan and the wider East African region.