Government plans to upgrade 826.8km and rehabilitate 359.5km of national roads in the 2026/27 financial year.

 October 6, 2026   |    17 views

PARLIAMENT-The Government has named 13 road projects to be upgraded to tarmac and five national roads to be rehabilitated in the 2026/27 financial year, under a plan covering 1,186.3km across the country.

Minister of Works and Transport Fred Byamukama told Parliament last Thursday that 826.8km had been earmarked for upgrading and 359.5km for rehabilitation, subject to the availability of funds. He was presenting the sector’s performance report for the 2025/26 financial year.

The roads to be upgraded are Katine-Ochero (69km), Kumi-Ngora-Serere-Kagwara (95km), Karugutu-Ntoroko (56.5km), Bubulo-Bududa Circular road, Mbale-Nkokonjeru road, Karenga-Kapedo-Kaabong (68km), Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Bukungu (127km), Kitgum-Kidepo (115km), Nebbi-Goli (16km) and Laropi-Moyo-Afoji (39.3km). The list also includes Hamurwa-Kerere-Kanungu-Kanyantorogo-Butogota-Buhoma/Hamayanja-Ifasha-Ikumba (143km), Laropi Bridge (1km) and 5km of Laropi and Moyo town roads.

The roads to be rehabilitated are Mbarara-Ibanda (65km), Mbarara-Ishaka (58.5km), Nebbi-Arua (80km), Ntungamo-Kagamba-Rukungiri (50km) and Gulu-Atiak-Nimule (106km).

According to Byamukama, the planned works span the eastern, western, northern and Karamoja regions. He said works are also planned on Masindi Port Bridge and Karuma Bridge.

He said another 11.5km of urban roads will be tarmacked in Lwamata, Nkokonjeru and Katabi town councils and in Kira and Njeru municipalities. The programme also includes rehabilitating 161km of community access roads and 49.8km of roads in Moroto and Nabilatuk districts to support cement production. Seven bridges are planned on district and community road networks.

Byamukama warned, however, that road maintenance remains underfunded. The Government has allocated Shs326 billion for maintaining the national road network in 2026/27, he said, against an estimated requirement of Shs807 billion.

He told MPs that the national road network represents assets valued at about Shs26.9 trillion, and that cumulative investment in roads over the years has exceeded Shs37 trillion.

“The Government has put in over Shs37 trillion, and if we do not maintain these tarmac roads in time, we will end up wasting money,” Byamukama said.