Mukono District Local Government has officially signed a contract agreement with China Railway No. 5 Engineering Group for the construction of the second phase of the Ntenjeru–Buule Road, a 10.5km strategic road corridor under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP), supported by the World Bank.
The signing ceremony, chaired by the Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Henry Damba, marked a significant milestone in Mukono’s ongoing efforts to expand modern road infrastructure and improve connectivity within the district.
The signed agreements include China Railway No. 5 Engineering Group – Main Contractor sh 32,513,196,962, Hersun Consults Limited – Supervising Consultant
shs1,039,010,000 and ECOSERV Limited – Environment, Social & Safety Consultant shs 897,090,000
The ceremony brought together heads of department, sectoral leaders ledby Deputy CAO Mr. Muhumuza Stephen, the District Planner and GKMA-UDP focal person, as well as representatives from all the construction and consultancy firms.
In his remarks, CAO Mr. Damba thanked the Government of Uganda for prioritizing Mukono in the World Bank–funded GKMA-UDP projects. He particularly appreciated the Under Secretary for her personal commitment and rigorous follow-up, which ensured that Mukono District was included among the beneficiaries.
He confirmed that all procurement processes, evaluations, and statutory approvals were fully completed before the signing.
Mr. Damba noted that the project comprises three major components that China Railway No. 5 will implement according to GKMA-UDP and World Bank standards.
Representing the District Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson LCV applauded the central government for its continued investment in Mukono’s development. He described the project as “a major milestone” and emphasized that the over UGX 38 billion investment will benefit the people of Mukono long after the current leadership has left office.
He extended special appreciation to the Under Secretary for her relentless efforts that helped secure this project.
Addressing contractors, he urged China Railway No. 5, Hersun Consultants, and ECOSERV to Deliver works exactly as promised, Avoid mismanagement of funds, Prioritize job opportunities for the people of Mukono and Engage women and youth in casual roles instead of importing labour from other districts.
The Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Hajjat Fatuma Ndisaba, commended all stakeholders—GKMA-UDP, the World Bank, and the Ministryfor championing the transformative project.
She emphasized that the new tarmac road would greatly decongest Mukono and provide a shorter connection to Kampala, especially for residents of Mukono South. The road will eventually link directly to Gaba Landing Site in Kampala.
Hajjat Ndisaba announced that the Ministry of Transport has already procured a ferry to connect Buule to Gaba, awaiting a final docking site.
Docking points will be established at Bule,Katosi and Koome Island and This will ease movement of passengers, goods, students, and government workers, boosting trade and service delivery.
The RDC cautioned Chinese contractors against forming intimate relationships with community members, citing legal aShe also urged Hersun Consultants to exercise strict professionalism in approving road designs, criticizing some narrow road designs in the district such as the Nabuti–Kame Valley Market junction, which limits access for larger vehicles.
She encouraged contractors to halt works in technically problematic areas until redesigns are made to prevent future accidents.
Environmental considerations, especially at wetland crossings, must be prioritized to prevent flooding during rainy seasons.
The LCIII Chairperson of Mpatta Sub-county, Mr. Mande Kimbugwe, thanked government for planning well for the community.
He applauded residents for voluntarily giving land for the project without compensation and expressed joy that the long-awaited tarmac road will support transport of fruits and agricultural nd cultural restrictions that could cause conflict.
Under Secretary Ms. Monica Edemacu urged contractors to carefully manage their workers while on site to avoid any negative incidents with communities.
“Let your workers interact with residents, but never to the extreme. We do not want negative outcomes.”
She praised the GKMA-UDP for having no serious cases of rights violations across project areas.
Ms. Edemacu reminded the contractor to begin works quickly, noting that China Railway No. 5 already understands the World Bank procedures from previous phases.
She also challenged local government leaders to ensure effective service delivery, noting that failures at lower levels are often wrongly blamed on national leadership.
Mr Li Peng The Programs Manager of China Railway No. 5 reaffirmed the contractor’s commitment to Creating jobs for local youth,Opening business opportunities for communities, and delivering high-quality works within the shortest time possible.
While, Mr Hassan the Team Leader for Hersun Consultants the supervising consultant’s Team Leader emphasized Full transparency and accountability, Timely reporting on project funds, Proper management of grievances and safety concerns and Joint collaboration to deliver a lasting infrastructure asset.
The contract signing for the second phase of the Ntenjeru–Buule Road 10.5Kms marks a significant step toward modernizing transport infrastructure in Mukono District. With strong commitments from government leaders, contractors, and consultants, the project is expected to bring long-term socioeconomic benefits enhancing mobility, trade, service delivery, and community wellbeing.
As Mukono positions itself within the rapidly growing Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, the successful implementation of this road project will stand as a symbol of partnership, accountability, and progress for generations to come.
