Uganda and Kenya have officially greenlit the feasibility study for a proposed Multinational Expressway, set to link the two nations via the Northern Corridor. This move marks a significant step in the development of one of East Africa’s most ambitious transport infrastructure projects.
The announcement came during a Market Sounding Conference held in Kampala, where government officials, financiers, and private sector leaders collectively endorsed the nearly 200-kilometre expressway as a regional priority. The project, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and falling under the East African Community (EAC) framework, is financed through a grant from the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF).
Once completed, the expressway will transform mobility and trade between Uganda and Kenya, alleviating congestion, reducing travel time, and facilitating the smoother flow of goods and people along one of East Africa's busiest transport routes, the Trans-African Highway and the EAC Regional Trunk Road Network. The feasibility studies suggest significant upgrades on both sides of the border. In Uganda, a new 60-kilometre greenfield expressway will be built between Jinja and Busesa through a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
Additionally, plans include expanding the Busesa–Malaba and Busitema–Busia sections, while the Lwakhakha–Bumbobi road will remain a single carriageway. On the Kenyan side, the project will involve dualling the Kisumu Bypass and upgrading the Kimaeti–Lwakhakha road to bitumen standards. The Busia and Malaba One Stop Border Posts will also be upgraded to improve clearance efficiency and trade facilitation.
Uganda's Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, highlighted the strategic significance of the Northern Corridor, describing it as the "main transport artery" connecting multiple East African nations to the port of Mombasa. He emphasized that the project aligns with Uganda's Vision 2040, which aims to modernize the road network to global standards.
“The active participation of the private sector through PPPs and blended financing models will be essential,” he said. Hon. Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, the EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political Sectors, stressed the importance of creating a "smart corridor" that integrates technology, safety, and social inclusion.
The conference reviewed findings from the feasibility studies, including traffic projections, environmental and social impact assessments, and cost estimates, all confirming the project’s strong technical and economic viability. The expressway is expected to stimulate regional trade and attract investment along the corridor.
Eng. Charles Obuon, Director of Public–Private Partnerships at the Kenya National Highways Authority, emphasized the project's potential to address infrastructure gaps and foster economic growth within the EAC. Similarly, Eng. Charles Wani, Uganda's Commissioner for National Roads, pointed out the necessity of embracing PPPs and blended financing to execute such large-scale projects.
The expressway is part of the EAC's broader effort to develop multinational road corridors that facilitate trade, investment, and regional integration. Other key corridors under development include those linking Uganda and Tanzania, as well as routes connecting key cities in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
With the feasibility study approved, the project is now set to proceed to the next phase: mobilizing financing and commencing detailed design, marking a crucial milestone in East Africa’s push for enhanced regional connectivity and economic growth.