4 , Tuesday, January 3, 2017 NATIONAL NEWS Construction of the -Jinja expressway will cost An Estimated $1.1b (ABOUT sh3.9 trillion GRAPHIC BY BRIAN SSEKAMATTE Kampala-Jinja expressway map

KEY R. Kangulumira-Jinja Rd Proposed Kampala-Jinja Kalagi expressway Existing Kampala-Jinja Road Other roads JINJA Forest a w ib Mbikko Water bodies z e

S Bombo Rd Existing Jinja Rd Kampala-Jinja Rd Road (2 lanes) Dangala Najjembe Nyenga n Bypa Norther ss Jinja Rd Mukono Kasenge KAMPALA Bukasa Rubaga

Proposed L. Victoria Kampala-Jinja expressway Nakisunga Rd (4 to 6 lanes) Southern Bypass L. Victoria Kiyindi

By Taddeo Bwambale

Construction of the Kampala- Jinja expressway will cost an estimated $1.1b (sh3.9 trillion), according to projections made Kampala-Jinja expressway by the National Roads Authority (UNRA). , the UNRA executive director confirmed on Friday that the search for a contractor was due to start early this year following project kicks off next year the approval of preliminary designs for the project. Government and development before handing it over to the to ease regional trade within Its design was based on a “Feasibility studies and partners will contribute $600m Government. the study by UNRA which shows designs have been approved. towards the project while a In order to generate income, Northern corridor and that the average journey time Our next step will be to concessionaire will invest part of the project will involve accelerate industrialisation of between the 24km Kampala advertise,” Kagina said in an $400m, Wani disclosed. building road tolls, from which Greater Kampala, Mukono and to Mukono road alone is about interview with New Vision. the contractor will be licensed Jinja towns. two hours. For a distance of 77km, it European Union to collect revenue on behalf of The project is expected The findings show that means the average cost per On the side of government, UNRA. The expressway will to create about 1,500 jobs the delays brought about by kilometre will be about $13m the European Union will start at Nakawa in Kampala. during construction and 200 increasing traffic affect trade, (sh46b), making it arguably contribute an unspecified grant From Nakawa to jobs during its operation. commuting, the environment the most expensive road while the French Development will be a four-lane road while Construction of the expressway and vehicle operating costs and project ever built in Uganda. Agency (AFD) and the African the stretch from Bweyogerere is scheduled to start next year. impact on the road network in Eng Isaac Wani, the UNRA Development Bank (ADB) will to Lugazi will have six lanes. The existing highway surrounding areas. director for network planning, contribute through loans. consists of a single carriageway The new expressway will said the costs are expected to In August, AFD pledged to Duration carrying east and westbound have a design speed of 85km be much lower by the time the provide $204m (sh729b) while Preliminary details of the traffic to and from Kampala city per hour around urban centres contractor starts work. AFD initially said it would Allen Kagina project show that the first and forms a primary section of and 120km per hour in rural “They are estimates that take provide $200m (sh714b) for section covering 33km from the Northern Corridor from the areas where there is less into account the scale of the the first phase, according The committee subjects PPP Kampala to Namataba will take port of Mombasa to . traffic. work. We expect the private to a public information projects to similar scrutiny like three years to build, followed by One of the main causes of UNRA experts warned of sector to be more innovative memorandum. the Public Procurement and a 43km section from Namataba the congestion from Mukono a ‘complete breakdown in and come up with better Sources said the PPP Disposal of Assets Authority to Jinja. to Kampala which records over transport reliability’ along the technology that will reduce the committee at the ministry of (PPDA), in accordance with the The final section is the 60,000 vehicles weekdays in corridor by 2037 if the traffic costs,” Wani told New Vision. finance that was tasked with PPP law that came into force in Kampala Southern Bypass, one direction alone. situation is not resolved. The expressway will be built scrutinising the project had 2015. an 18km stretch starting The Kampala-Jinja The PPP project is touted as as a Public Private Partnership approved the feasibility studies Under the proposed at on the eastern expressway is expected to an innovative approach and (PPP) project, with funds and preliminary designs of the arrangement, the outskirts of Kampala, finally drastically shorten the journey the first of its kind in Sub pooled from the Government, project. However, efforts to concessionaire will design, connecting to the new time from Kampala to Jinja. Saharan , involving the development partners and get comments from the acting finance and build the 77km Kampala- Expressway Currently, during traffic snarl- large scale involvement of both the main contractor. Under director of the PPP committee, expressway as well as maintain at . ups, the journey takes several the public and private sector in the proposed terms, the Beatrice Ikalal, was fruitless. and operate it for 25 years, The expressway is envisaged hours. the roads sector. University re-opens, ready to start lectures CORRECTIONS B Vivian Agaba When New Vision visited Staff Association (MUASA), agricultural and environmental Students speak out The New Vision strives to and Martin Kitubi the university yesterday, Muhammad Kiggundu and all sciences who preferred Isaiah Bogere said the closure make its coverage accurate. although lectures were yet to signs indicate the lecturers are anonymity said lecturers at of the institution denied him a If you have a question about students resume, some students were ready to teach. the college had turned up and chance to graduate on time. the accuracy of our stories, yesterday started reporting seen revising for the coming “The schedule is going to be ready to start teaching. “I could not access the contact us at: accuracy@ to the university for the exams. tight with courseworks, tests Zaam Ssali, the clearance forms for my newvision.co.ug or write to: continuation of the first Ritah Namisango, the and exams, I call on students to communication person of the graduation because the The Accuracy Co-ordinator, semester that was interrupted institution’s spokesperson, said concentrate on their studies,” college of natural sciences told institution was closed, however The New Vision, P.O. Box by the closure of the institution she had talked to the head of she advised. New Vision that lecturers were the re-opening raises my hopes 9815, Kampala in November last year. Makerere University Academic A lecturer at the college of ready to start teaching. of graduating,” he said.