KAMPALA. Government has changed the design for Busega–Mpigi Expressway, adding five major interchanges in what officials describe as a transformative upgrade to one of the country’s busiest and most congested transport corridors.
The redesign comes as the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) approves €217.37 million (about Shs 910 billion) in new financing to complete the stalled project.
In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Works and Transport said the revised scope introduces new interchanges at Busega, Nabbingo, Maya, Lungala and Mpigi, turning the expressway into a high-capacity, multi-access road that will significantly ease traffic flow between Kampala and the western region.
“The revised scope now includes additional interchanges at Busega, Nabbingo, Maya, Lungala and Mpigi, a major upgrade that will significantly enhance traffic capacity along the Expressway,” the Ministry said.
“These interchanges will improve access, ease congestion and ensure safer, more efficient movement for all road users.”
The newly added interchanges are designed to tackle the choke points that have long caused gridlock on the stretch between Busega and Mpigi.
Busega Interchange will connect the expressway directly to the Northern Bypass, diverting urban traffic away from residential bottlenecks.
Nabbingo and Maya interchanges will absorb heavy daily commuter traffic from Wakiso’s expanding urban settlements.
Lungala and Mpigi interchanges will streamline long-haul transit traffic heading toward Masaka, Mbarara, Rwanda and Burundi.
Transport engineers say the interchanges transform the expressway from a simple dual carriageway into a seamless flow system capable of handling the region’s fast-growing traffic volumes.
The AfDB’s newly approved funding will cover the construction of the interchanges, along with toll plazas, service lanes, seven bridges and 54 kilometres of lined drainage channels. The Bank said the investment will help eliminate chronic congestion on the Northern Corridor, a strategic route connecting Uganda to Kigali and eastern DR Congo.
“These improvements will address chronic traffic congestion between Busega and Mpigi,” the Bank said in its statement. “The additional financing ensures the expressway delivers safer, faster and more inclusive transport for millions.”
The total cost of the upgraded Uganda section has risen to €424.61 million due to the expanded scope, more than double the original €176.26 million.
The project has been slowed by land acquisition disputes and financing gaps since construction began in 2020.
Construction is scheduled to resume in January 2026 and run through December 2029, with full commissioning expected in 2030. When completed, the expressway’s five interchanges will form the backbone of western mobility—reducing travel times, cutting transport costs and boosting Uganda’s competitiveness along the Northern Corridor.