Kampala–Jinja Expressway Nears Completion as Government Eyes Early 2027 Opening
The 77km tolled highway is now more than 90 percent complete, with officials promising it will cut travel time between the two cities to under an hour.
The long-awaited Kampala–Jinja Expressway is entering its final construction phase, with the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) confirming that more than 90 percent of civil works have been completed.
Speaking at a site inspection in Mukono on Tuesday, UNRA executive director Allen Kagina said the remaining work involves surface asphalting, toll plaza installation and safety signage. "Barring any unforeseen delays, motorists should be using this road by the first quarter of next year," she told reporters.
The four-lane expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Kampala and Jinja from roughly two hours to under 45 minutes, easing pressure on the congested Northern Bypass and Jinja Road corridor that currently handles over 18,000 vehicles a day.
Local leaders in Mukono and Buikwe districts have welcomed the project, though some traders along the old route have raised concerns about lost business once traffic shifts to the new highway. UNRA says a compensation and resettlement review is ongoing for the last remaining affected households.
