Motorists can now look forward to smoother journeys on the Kampala Northern Bypass following the completion of asphalt laying on the Namungoona–Bwaise section. The Ministry of Works and Transport has announced the full reopening of the road.
In a statement released on Monday, the ministry confirmed that asphalt works on the section have reached 100% completion. The Namungoona–Bwaise stretch was set to reopen to traffic by 10:00 a.m. once the contractor finished removing all machinery and equipment from the site.
“Asphalt laying works along the Kampala Northern Bypass have now been completed —100%. The Namungoona–Bwaise section is expected to re-open to traffic by 10:00 a.m. today, once the contractor has fully demobilized all machinery and equipment from the site,” the ministry stated.
Road marking works will begin in the coming days and are expected to cause little to no disruption to traffic flow.
The announcement follows a recent seven-day ultimatum issued by Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama to contractor Stirling Civil Engineering. The minister ruled out any further extensions for the rehabilitation of the 21-kilometre Northern Bypass.
During a site inspection last week, Byamukama rejected the contractor’s request for more time, noting that the Shs67 billion project had already taken three years and caused significant economic losses for motorists and businesses.
“You cannot work on a 21-kilometre road for three years and then come asking for an extension. We are not extending this contract,” the minister said.
He instructed the contractor to finish the remaining tasks within seven days and immediately clear all equipment from the site upon completion.
Byamukama described the prolonged construction as “a mess,” pointing out that it had led to severe traffic jams, caused travellers to miss flights, discouraged investment, inconvenienced tourists, and raised fuel consumption and travel times.
The Northern Bypass is a key transport corridor in Uganda, connecting major highways around Kampala and handling both local and regional traffic.
The rehabilitation project, awarded to Stirling Civil Engineering under a Shs67 billion contract, started in 2022. It involved resurfacing with new asphalt, repairing damaged sections, improving drainage, and upgrading road safety features. Delays during the works drew widespread criticism from road users and officials due to the resulting heavy congestion.
With asphalt works now finished and the key section reopened, drivers should see better traffic flow, while the final road markings are completed with minimal impact.