By Felix Oketcho
Japanese Ambassador to Uganda Sasayama Takuya has committed to fund both the second phase of the Kampala Fly Over project and the construction of a new state-of-the-art bridge at Karuma Waterfalls.
The second phase will see the construction from the end of first one along Mukwano Road through Access road, part of Yusuf Lule road to Garden City Roundabout, and part of Jinja road up to Wampewo Roundabout. The entire project is expected to cost $1.1 billion.
The first phase costed over $3 billion and works covered Queen’s Way, Nsambya junction and part of Mukwano road, a new modern Clock Tower flyover, a four-lane Nsambya underpass, three pedestrian bridges, junction improvements, and general road widened to ease traffic flow.
Sasayama made these remarks during a courtesy visit to the Office of the Prime Minister where he met with the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Peter Lokeris, the Minister of State Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Dr. Lillian Aber, and the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Executive Director Allen Kagina.said.
“The projects are for Uganda and the people of Uganda. We aim to make the East African Community viable with Uganda being the hub. We are looking forward towards the bigger vision of integrating Africa as a whole,”Sasayama stressed.
He said the Japanese government is not only discussing phase two of the flyover project but also the construction of Karuma Bridge as soon as possible.
On her part, Nabbanja extended gratitude to the government and the people of Japan through its Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) for their unwavering support and partnership in financing various sectors and projects such as the Source of the Nile Bridge.
“We are at 98% completion rate of the first phase and need to fast-track the second phase. The Kampala Flyover Road Project will address the longstanding issue of traffic congestion in our capital city. This project is not just about building a flyover; it is about transforming how we move, live, and do business in Kampala. By easing traffic flow and reducing travel times, we are creating a more efficient and safer urban environment,” she said.
During the engagement, UNRA Executive Director, Allen Kagina revealed that her agency had about $90 million which would help to kick start phase two of the Kampala Flyover project, and that the Ministry of Finance had written to Japan to allow them to utilize these funds to ensure that there is no gap between the two phases.
The premier, Robinah Nabbanja used the same meeting to appeal for the fast-tracking of the construction of the Karuma Bridge to facilitate trade and tourism in Northern Uganda.
Kagina briefed the meeting that plans for constructing a new bridge at Karuma Falls had commenced.
She said that the new bridge will be more robust and have a higher elevation which will help eliminate all the sharp corners near and around the falls.
