President Yoweri Museveni has highlighted sweeping progress in national infrastructure that he says has transformed the country’s connectivity, power capacity, health, and education sectors over the past years.
Speaking about the government’s priorities, President Museveni said the country’s extensive investment in road construction has now created a robust national network linking all regions with either tarmac or well-maintained murram roads.
He was delivering his State of Nation Address at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds today (June 5, 2025) in Kampala.
“This means whatever is produced in the country can easily reach the markets. It also means that the cost and time of moving goods has reduced significantly,” the President stated, underscoring the benefits for both domestic trade and foreign investment.
He noted that when National Resistance Movement (NRM) came to power in 1986, Uganda had just 1,900 kilometers of tarmac roads, only 114 of which were in fair condition.
He said the figure has since surged to 6,199 kilometers, and a new wave of major road construction is set to begin in the upcoming financial year.
Key projects include the 105-kilometer Kyenjojo-Kahunge corridor, the 127-kilometer Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Bukungu road, and 115 kilometers connecting Kitgum to Kidepo, among others.
He said in addition to new builds, a series of strategic roads and bridges are being rehabilitated, including the 72-kilometer Kampala-Jinja highway and the vital Katonga and Ssezibwa bridges.
Museveni noted that negotiations are ongoing to secure further funding for more roads to enhance Uganda’s regional integration, especially connections to neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Roads to be upgraded, maintained next FY
In the upcoming financial year, the government is set to embark on an ambitious road infrastructure program to improve connectivity across the country. Several roads will be upgraded to tarmac standard, others will be maintained, and key strategic bridges will also be prioritized.
The following roads are planned for construction to tarmac standard:
- Yumbe – Ure road and bridge – 23.6 km
- Katine – Ochero road – 69.3 km
- Town roads in Kaberamaido and Kalaki Towns – 2.9 km
- Kyenjojo – Kihura – Bwizi – Rwamwanja – Kahunge and Mpara – Bwizi – 105 km
- Iganga – Bulopa – Kamuli – Jinja – 56.3 km
- Mbulamuti – Kamuli – Bukungu – 127 km
- Jinja City roads – 10 km
- Kitgum – Kidepo road – 115 km
- Ishasha – Katunguru – 88 km
- Luku – Kalangala – Mulabana road – 65.3 km
- Seven town roads in Kalangala – 10.67 km
- Nabumali – Butaleja – Namutumba – 72 km
- Karenga – Kapedo – Kaabong – 73 km
- Kotido – Kaabong road – 69.6 km
- Bubulo – Bududa circular road – 25 km
- Mbale – Nkokonjeru – 21 km
- Kabwohe Nyakambu – Bwizibwera and Nyakambu – Nsiika road – 46.4 km
- Nebbi – Arua road (under repair) – 78.9 km
In addition, negotiations are ongoing to secure funding for the tarmacking of several more roads, including:
- Kabujogyera – Kitagwenda – Kamwenge Road
- Muhaanga – Rwamuchuuchu – Kisiizi – Rubaare Road (with branches to Nyakisheenyi and Kebisooni)
- Lyantonde – Lumbugu – Rakai
- Ssembabule – Mateete – Mbiriizi – Kibinge – Kyabakuza
- Myanzi – Kassanda – Kiboga
- Kikagate – Kitwe – Mirama Hill
- Kabiingo – Rugaaga – Magabi – Rakai
- Luweero – Butalangwa – Ngoma – Bulyamusenyu – Masindi
- Kayunga – Bbale – Galiraya
These roads will be in addition to the completion of already ongoing works, including:
- Muyembe – Nakapiripirit – 92 km
- Service roads – 25 km
- Kira – Matugga road and junction improvements – 21 km
- Tororo – Busia road – 26 km
- Mayuge and Busia town roads – 18 km
- Kawuku – Bwerenga road – 6.6 km
- Apac – Lira – Puranga road – 100 km
- Access road to Namugonde – Bugiri Fuel Tank Reservoir – 1.6 km
Road Maintenance Works
Maintenance will also be carried out on the following major roads:
- Kampala – Jinja highway – 72 km
- Busunju – Kiboga – Hoima – 145 km
- Mityana – Mubende road – 86 km
- Mubende – Kyenjojo road – 95.2 km
- Mityana town roads – 14 km
- Alwii – Nebbi – 33 km
- Pakwach and Nebbi Town Roads
- Olwiyo – Pakwach road – 62.5 km
- Matugga – Semutto – Kapeeka – 41 km
- Tororo – Mbale – Soroti – 150.8 km
- Soroti – Dokolo – Lira – Kamdini road – 189.4 km
- Karuma – Olwiyo – 43.5 km
- Masaka – Kyotera – Mutukula road – 89.5 km
- Nyendo – Villa Maria road – 11 km
- Access roads – 7 km
- Rehabilitation of national roads (at end of service life) – 166 km equivalent
Strategic Bridges to Be Prioritized
Next financial year, the following bridges will be prioritized for construction or upgrade:
- Ssezibwa Bridge (along Kalagi – Kayunga Road)
- Katonga Bridge
- Lwera Swamp crossing
- Kalandazi Swamp crossing
President Museveni further noted that electricity infrastructure has also seen a massive leap. He noted that from a single hydropower station in 1986 generating just 150 megawatts, Uganda now boasts over 2,000 megawatts of installed capacity.
He warned, however, that this capacity is rapidly being outstripped by the growing energy demands of a manufacturing-driven economy.
To address this, he said the government will soon break ground on three new hydropower projects, Ayago, Kiba, and Oriang, as well as Africa’s largest nuclear power plant in Buyende, projected to generate 8,400 megawatts, pushing Uganda’s total capacity to over 12,000 megawatts.
In health and education, Museveni credited the government’s emphasis on human capital development for recent strides.
He pointed to upgraded health centers in rural districts like Yumbe, now home to 26 Health Centre IIIs, which have eased maternal care and increased access to essential services. Investments have also expanded the Uganda Cancer Institute and Uganda Heart Institute, while enabling new production of medical supplies like syringes and gloves at Namanve’s pharmaceutical park.
In education, he stressed that reforms are steering the curriculum toward practical, employable skills. Universal Primary Education now reaches nearly 9 million learners, and 50 new Seed Secondary Schools were added last year under the Uganda Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers Program.
Uganda now has over 12,500 government-aided primary schools and 1,416 secondary schools, with ongoing expansion expected to close remaining gaps.
Clean water access has also dramatically improved, jumping from just 10% of households in 1986 to over 81% today.
Museveni cited rural piped water systems and borehole projects across districts like Agago and Kayunga, and praised local governments for rehabilitating critical infrastructure to bring safe water within reach of millions.
