Kayunga — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially launched the construction of the long-awaited Kayunga–Bbaale–Galiraya Road, a vital infrastructure project expected to transform regional connectivity and unlock economic potential across Central, Northern, and Northeastern Uganda.
The President was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, at a colourful groundbreaking ceremony in Kayunga District.
Stretching 87 kilometres, the road will be built by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) at a cost of Shs 213.9 billion (approximately $57 million). In a rare financing arrangement, the contractor will fund construction upfront, with the Ugandan government set to begin payments after two years. The Ministry of Works and Transport will handle supervision in-house.
“This is a strategic route we’ve been planning for a long time,” President Museveni said. “It reduces the journey from places like Amolatar in the Lango sub-region to Kampala by nearly half, from over 200 miles around Lake Kyoga to just 100 miles via Kayunga.”
The President lauded the people of Kayunga for their patriotism, with many residents willingly giving up land for the road without demanding compensation. He noted that avoiding the estimated Shs 76 billion in land compensation had helped fast-track the project.
“You’ve said, ‘Give us the road, we won’t charge for the land.’ That’s clever and patriotic,” he said. “When a road reaches your land, it increases its value, reduces your costs, and improves your livelihood. You people understand ekibaro—smart economics.”
President Museveni also commended CRBC for accepting deferred payments, praising the company’s trust in Uganda’s financial stability and future oil revenues. “Your machines would be idle, but now they will be at work. That’s confidence in Uganda,” he added.
However, the President reminded citizens that roads alone do not eliminate poverty. “You don’t sleep on the road; you sleep in your house. We must focus on household wealth creation alongside infrastructure.”
The project will include a new ferry landing site at Galiraya (Kawongo) to support cross-Lake Kyoga transportation. Additional feeder roads through towns are also under consideration.
Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Katumba Wamala hailed the road as a critical artery that will bridge central Uganda with the north and northeast.
“This road will cut travel time and reduce vehicle operating costs. It will improve access to social services and stimulate economic activity, especially in agriculture and oil exploration in the Kyoga Basin,” he said.
He pledged strict oversight to ensure cost control and timely completion, revealing that the road corridor would be limited to 30 meters instead of the standard 50 to minimise displacement. “This is not just a government project—it’s your road. Own it. Support the contractor,” Gen. Katumba told the community.
Hon. Amos Lugoloobi, Minister of State for Planning, described the event as the fulfilment of a 30-year-old dream for the people of Kayunga. “Today, Your Excellency, you’ve turned a dream into reality. This road will directly link Kayunga to Lango via a planned ferry connection, opening doors to trade, tourism, and markets,” he said.
He emphasised the road’s potential to boost access to schools, hospitals, and employment, particularly for youth, and pledged to align the project with broader national development priorities.
The Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Zhang Lizhong, praised the Uganda-China partnership and said infrastructure remains central to economic growth. “In China, we say, ‘To get rich, build a road first.’ Uganda has embraced this principle,” he said. “As we mark 25 years of China-Uganda cooperation, we’re proud to be part of Uganda’s infrastructure story.”
Construction of the Kayunga–Galiraya Road is expected to be completed within 24 months. Once finished, it will significantly ease the movement of goods and people, catalysing growth in agriculture, fisheries, oil and gas, and other sectors across multiple regions of Uganda.
