infrastructure 16 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Expands Busia Border Road to Dual Carriageway to Reduce Traffic Delays
The Ugandan government has launched expansion works on the Busia border road, converting the outdated narrow route into a dual carriageway to handle heavy truck traffic and cut congestion. The project, part of broader infrastructure upgrades, aims to streamline cross-border trade along a vital East African route. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-expands-busia-border-road-to-dual-carriageway-to-cut-delays-5426072
The Ministry of Works and Transport has begun upgrading the Busia border road, a key segment of the Northern Corridor, into a dual carriageway. This addresses chronic congestion from around 1,500 trucks daily carrying fuel and goods to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, and South Sudan.
The existing road, built in the 1970s, struggles with high volumes, causing trucks to wait days instead of the targeted 15 minutes under the One Stop Border Post system. Engineer James Tumukunde, supervising the works by China Railway 18 Bureau, noted the upgrade will allow parking for clearance without blocking traffic.
State Minister Musa Ecweru highlighted the project’s role in regional integration, linking it to the Standard Gauge Railway from Kisumu to Malaba commissioned by Presidents Museveni and Ruto. The rail will shift bulk cargo, easing road pressure.
Completion is set for August, with additional plans to tarmac the Busia-Tororo road, upgrade 5km in Busia Municipality to bitumen, and add 6km under the World Bank-funded UCMID programme—totaling 11km of new surfaces.
Local traders welcome the changes. Richard Sande said congestion had blocked customer access, while chairman Sulaiman Benjura urged faster completion to boost business.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)