The impact of Covid-19 has affected the timely completion of Busega – Mpigi Expressway that was slated for May 2022.
While inspecting the road construction progress of Uganda’s second toll fee road after Entebbe Expressway, the minister for Works and Transport Gen Katumba Wamala revealed said the pandemic led to delay in procuring necessary equipment to complete the road in time.
“Effects of Covid-19 lockdown leading to delayed mobilisation of equipment, plant and human resources due to restrictions in overseas travel, reduced productivity due to movement restrictions of local staff,” Katumba said.
Katumba also confirmed that the re-alignment of the road design away from the original plan also impacted the road construction progress.
At the moment, road construction progress stands at 15% with minister Katumba anticipating that once all stakeholders play their part, it is set to be completed by 2025.
“We have given ourselves tasks and time frames for each one of us so that by end of April we should have addressed most of the issues concerning this project to enable the contractor move fast. It is reassuring that the contractor is well mobilised with equipment on site. The contractor’s employment levels are also encouraging with about 602 workers, of whom 597 are Ugandans and only 65 are foreigners,” Katumba said.
Busega – Mpigi Expressway which is expected to cover a distance of 23.7 kilometres from Busega to Mpanga Forest in Mpigi shall contain four toll plazas, 13 bridges and several interchanges as well access roads expected to further spur economic development of the country.
The road project is co-funded with support from the African Development (ADB).
