UK, World Bank give $190m for improving Uganda’s roads

A massive $190 million will be spent improving the state of Uganda’s roads after the World Bank and the British government approved a new programme of works as part of their support for the government’s Transport Development Project.

The money, which will cover a four-year period from 2010 to 2014 will specifically assist the government of Uganda in improving the condition of the national road network, and increasing capacity for road safety and transport sector management.

The funds were approved by the World Bank on December 9.

A key aim of the project will be the upgrading of the Gulu-Atiak and Vurra-Arua-Oraba roads (approximately 160 km) from gravel to paved standard.

“What we want to see this operation achieve is the reduction of average transport cost and travel time on project roads, better access by the rural population, and a general decline in the annual accident fatalities,” said Dieter Schelling, lead transport specialist and task team leader for the project.

The project is expected to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Uganda National Roads Authority to provide sector oversight, monitoring, policy formulation and planning, through the provision of technical assistance, the carrying out of studies, and the provision of training and equipment.

Uganda’s road infrastructure provides for over 90 percent of passenger and freight traffic, and comprises 10,800 kilometres of national trunk roads, 27,500 kilometres of district roads; 4,800 kilometres of urban roads and approximately 35,000 kilometres of community access roads.

About 3,000 kilometres of the national roads are paved.