Entebbe Municipality’s Transport Renaissance; Beyond Asphalt, How a Shs22.7 Billion Project Is Transforming Uganda’s Gateway City By Brian Mugenyi

By Brian Mugenyi

Watchdog Uganda

mugenyijj@gmail.com

ENTEBBE, UGANDA —

For years, the journey from Kitooro to Nakiwogo Landing Site told a familiar story of a city caught between its global importance and local infrastructure challenges.

The same roads that carried tourists from Entebbe International Airport, traders from Mpigi District and passengers heading to Lake Victoria islands also carried the burden of dust, congestion, poor drainage and delays.

Today, that story is changing.

The roar of excavators, graders and heavy machinery has replaced the silence of neglected roads along the Kitooro–Kiwafu–Nakiwogo (KKN) corridor, where a Shs22.7 billion infrastructure project is redefining movement, trade and urban life in Uganda’s gateway municipality.

From Kitooro Market, where more than 650 vendors depend on daily customer access, to Nakiwogo Landing Site, where thousands of passengers connect across Lake Victoria, the road project is becoming a symbol of how strategic infrastructure investment can transform ordinary livelihoods.

For decades, Entebbe Municipality has carried the prestigious identity of being Uganda’s gateway to the world.

It is the city that welcomes international visitors through Entebbe International Airport, hosts the country’s State House, attracts tourists to the shores of Lake Victoria and serves as a strategic link between Uganda and the global economy.

But behind this international image lies a growing urban centre facing increasing pressure from population growth, expanding businesses, rising tourism activities and the demand for modern infrastructure.

Today, Entebbe is witnessing what local leaders describe as a road renaissance — a transformation driven by deliberate investment in urban infrastructure.

The ongoing Kitooro–Kiwafu–Nakiwogo (KKN) Road reconstruction project represents a new chapter in the municipality’s development journey.

Inside the Shs22.7 billion Kitooro–Kiwafu–Nakiwogo road project

The project, officially titled “Construction of Selected Roads in Entebbe Municipal Council: Lot 3; Reconstruction of Kitooro–Kiwafu–Nakiwogo (KKN) Road,” covers a 4.30-kilometre road stretch within Entebbe Municipality.

The project is funded by the World Bank through the International Development Association (IDA) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) through the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs (MOKCC&MA) on behalf of the Government of Uganda.

The Employer and Contracting Authority is Entebbe Municipal Council.

The contract reference number is ENTE705/GKMA/WRKS/2024-2025/00003.

The contract was signed on 8 January 2025, with construction commencing on 28 February 2025.

The works are being undertaken by M/s Armpass Technical Services Ltd, under an 18-month contract duration, excluding the 365-day Defect Liability Period.

The total contract amount is UGX 22,698,335,250 (Twenty-Two Billion, Six Hundred Ninety-Eight Million, Three Hundred Thirty-Five Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Shillings), VAT inclusive.

The contract payments are made entirely in Uganda Shillings, with a 10 percent retention on Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) to safeguard quality and ensure contractual obligations are fulfilled.

Supervision of the works is being undertaken by M/s Segamu 14 Consults Ltd, while environmental and social safeguards are being monitored by M/s Ardent International Services Ltd.

The project scope includes reconstruction of the road, drainage improvement, pedestrian walkways, parking facilities, road safety infrastructure and installation of street lighting aimed at improving mobility, security and urban order.

Roads opening doors for trade and livelihoods

The KKN Road connects Kitooro towards Nakiwogo Landing Site — one of Uganda’s busiest ferry terminals linking Entebbe to Buwaya and communities across Lake Victoria.

The improved road network is expected to benefit thousands of users, including traders transporting agricultural produce from Mpigi District, ferry passengers, tourists travelling to the Ssese Islands and travellers using Entebbe International Airport.

For traders at Kitooro Market, the project represents more than construction.

It represents opportunity.

According to Ms Christine Damalie Nassozi, the Market Administrator, improved roads are creating better conditions for traders, farmers and businesses that depend on Entebbe’s transport network.

“The government’s continued investment in roads is opening up business opportunities for our vendors. Better roads make it easier for farmers, traders, tourists and transporters to reach the market, which directly improves household incomes,” Ms Nassozi said.

She explained that roads remain the foundation of economic growth because they connect communities, markets and investment opportunities.

“Roads are the foundation of development. They support trade, improve movement of people and goods, attract investment and make service delivery more efficient. The ongoing road projects in Entebbe are changing the face of the municipality,” she added.

Kitooro Market: The human face of infrastructure

For more than 650 vendors operating at Kitooro Market, the improved road network is changing their daily business environment.

According to Ms Najjita Fatuma, Vice Chairperson of Food Sellers at Kitooro Market, the roads have become central to daily business operations.

“Many people use these roads for their daily businesses. The improvement has reduced dust, improved the environment around the market and attracted more clients who can now access the market easily,” Ms Najjita said.

She explained that improved road conditions have created a cleaner and more welcoming environment for customers and traders.

Among those experiencing the impact is Mr Jonathan Tukundane, a chicken seller at Kitooro Market, who sells broiler chickens ranging from Shs20,000 to Shs40,000 alongside local chicken varieties.

Mr Tukundane said the road improvements have contributed to development in the area by making it easier for customers to access the market.

“The roads have brought development in this area because customers can now access the market more easily. Better transport means better business opportunities for us as traders,” he said.

He appealed for continued government support through economic empowerment programmes, including increased Parish Development Model (PDM) funding, to enable small traders to expand their businesses.

“More support through programmes like PDM can help small traders grow their businesses, increase incomes and improve the livelihoods of families,” he added.

Trade growth, investment and the remaining urban challenges

 

Beyond improving movement and reducing transport challenges, local leaders say the Kitooro–Kiwafu–Nakiwogo road project is expected to strengthen Entebbe’s commercial environment by attracting investors and supporting business growth.

According to Mr Stephen Mulindwa, Head of Trade and Economic Development at Entebbe Municipality, the road development represents the transformation journey that Entebbe has undergone and the direction the municipality is taking.

Mr Mulindwa said improved infrastructure demonstrates how Entebbe is moving from facing historical urban challenges towards becoming a more organised and attractive destination for investors, businesses and economic activities.

“The road development is important because it shows where Entebbe Municipality has come from and where it is going. It brings development and encourages investors to come and do business in the area,” Mr Mulindwa said.

He explained that better roads improve access to markets, reduce transport costs and create an enabling environment for traders and investors to expand their businesses.

However, Mr Mulindwa noted that urban transformation must be accompanied by responsible behaviour from residents and traders to protect the gains achieved through infrastructure investment.

He raised concern over some reckless vendors operating along Kitooro Market, especially during Tuesday market days, where improper disposal of waste along roadways exposes the community to health and hygiene risks.

“As we develop our infrastructure, we must also improve our responsibility towards cleanliness. Some vendors who dispose of waste along roadways affect public health and undermine the beauty of the municipality,” he said.

He urged traders, residents and visitors to work together with municipal authorities in maintaining cleanliness and protecting the improved road infrastructure.

 

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