Government of Uganda has said 92 percent of Uganda’s paved national roads are in fair to good condition, exceeding its target of 90 percent, while 77 percent of unpaved national roads are also in fair to good condition.
Presenting a statement to Parliament on the status of roads across the country on Tuesday, the Minister of Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama said road transport remains the backbone of Uganda’s transport system, carrying more than 90 percent of passenger and cargo traffic. The minister said continued investment in roads is intended to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, strengthen regional integration and drive socio-economic transformation.
According to the statement, Uganda’s road network stretches about 159,561 kilometres, of which only 5.57 percent is paved while the remaining 94.43 percent is unpaved. The ministry is currently implementing 23 road upgrading projects covering 1,274.8 kilometres, 11 rehabilitation projects spanning 854.6 kilometres, 30 bridges under 11 bridge projects, 16 projects under in-house supervision and one road project under direct construction by the ministry.
Minister Byamukama told Parliament that several national road projects have already been completed, including the Alwii–Nebbi Road, the Soroti–Dokolo–Lira–Kamdini Road, the Moroto–Lokitanyala Road and roads in Pallisa and Kumi municipalities.
Among the ongoing projects nearing completion are the Masindi–Biiso–Kabaale–Kiziranfumbi road network at 92.6 percent, Apac–Lira–Puranga Road at 95.95 percent, Muyembe–Nakapiripirit Road at 88.4 percent and Tororo–Busia Road and Busia Town Roads at 87.43 percent.
He also announced plans to begin new road projects during the 2026/27 financial year, subject to funding. These include the Kitgum–Kidepo Road, Jinja–Mbulamuti–Kamuli–Bukungu Road, Karugutu–Ntoroko Road and Hamurwa–Kanungu–Buhoma Road, among others. Planned rehabilitation works include the Mbarara–Ibanda, Mbarara–Ishaka, Ntungamo–Kagamba–Rukungiri and Mukono–Jinja roads.
To preserve the national road network, the government has allocated Shs326 Billion for maintenance during the current financial year against an estimated annual requirement of Shs807 billion. The funds will support routine and periodic road maintenance, bridge repairs, emergency interventions following floods and landslides, and drainage improvements.
Minister Byamukama, however, acknowledged several challenges affecting implementation of road projects, including high costs of land acquisition, climate change impacts, inadequate maintenance funding, lengthy procurement processes and delays linked to counterpart funding for externally financed projects.
Despite the challenges, Minister Byamukama pledged to continue implementing road upgrading and maintenance programmes, saying improved road infrastructure remains critical to economic growth, trade and the successful implementation of government programmes.
