The Ministry of Works has announced completion of rehabilitation works along the Northern Bypass.
“Asphalt laying works along the Kampala Northern Bypass have now been completed —100%.The Namungoona–Bwaise section is expected to re-open to traffic by 10:00 a.m. today, once the contractor has fully demobilized all machinery and equipment from the site,” the Ministry said in a statement on Monday morning.
Last week, the Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama directed, the contractor, Stirling Civil Engineering to complete rehabilitation works on the 21-kilometre road within seven days, ruling out any further extension to a project that has already taken three years.
During an inspection of the road project, Byamukama said government would not approve the contractor's request for additional time, arguing that the Shs67 billion maintenance project had already exceeded its completion schedule at a significant cost to road users and the economy.
"You cannot work on a 21-kilometre road for three years and then come asking for an extension. We are not extending this contract," the minister said.
He instructed the contractor to complete the remaining section under construction within the next seven days and remove all equipment from the site immediately after the works are finished.
Byamukama described the project as "a mess," saying the prolonged construction had caused severe traffic congestion, leading travellers to miss flights, discouraging investors and inconveniencing tourists entering the country through Kampala.
On Monday morning, the Ministry of Works announced the road would be reopen to traffic but said marking will be done at a later stage.
“In a few days, the contractor will now proceed with road marking, which will be carried out with minimal or no disruption to traffic flow.”
The development is expected to ease traffic congestion on the road which had been caused by blocking of some parts of the busy road to allow for maintenance works.
Commenting about the development, Minister Byamukama hailed the contractor for heeding to his directive.
"I am pleased that the asphalt laying has now been completed as directed and the secont will reopen to traffic this morning," Byamukama said.
