Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has on Thursday signed a commercial agreement worth €250 million with COLAS Ltd for the implementation of the Kampala City Roads and Bridges Upgrading Project (KCRBUP).
Funded by the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF), the project aims to upgrade 127 kilometers of city roads across Kampala’s five divisions and construct three pedestrian bridges.
The scope of the project includes the installation of solar-powered street lighting, modern drainage systems, sidewalks, landscaping, bus stops, and cycle lanes all designed to significantly enhance urban mobility, safety, and connectivity.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki noted that the four-year project will see the construction of 118 roads and major improvements in drainage infrastructure.
Minister for Kampala, Hajjati Minsa Kabanda, emphasized the need for transparency and high-quality execution throughout the project.
Tiffany Kirlew, Deputy British High Commissioner to Uganda, remarked that this is one of six major infrastructure projects supported by UKEF in Uganda and the second involving COLAS. She added that by the end of the financial year, UKEF’s portfolio in Uganda is expected to exceed USD 1 billion, underscoring the UK’s long-term commitment to Uganda’s development.
However, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago raised concerns about two key challenges often faced in such partnerships: the government’s failure to fairly compensate people whose land is affected by the projects and the lack of standardized compensation rates, both of which hinder effective road construction.
By Olivia Nabaggala
10th July 2025
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