Movement between Kenya and Uganda along the Northern Corridor is set for a major upgrade following confirmation that the Kisumu–Busia/Kakira–Malaba Multinational Expressway is ready for investment.
The announcement came during a Market Sounding Conference held in Kampala, Uganda, on October 21, 2025, where officials, financiers, and private sector leaders endorsed the nearly 200-kilometer expressway as a top regional infrastructure priority.
Backed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and implemented under the East African Community (EAC) framework, the project is financed through the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF).
Once complete, it is expected to transform mobility and trade between Kenya and Uganda—cutting travel time, easing congestion, and boosting the flow of goods and people across one of East Africa’s busiest routes.
Feasibility studies recommend major upgrades on both sides of the border. In Uganda, a new 60-kilometer greenfield expressway will link Jinja to Busesa through a Public–Private Partnership, alongside the dualling of the Busesa–Malaba and Busitema–Busia sections.
On the Kenyan side, the works will include dualling the Kisumu bypass and upgrading the Kimaeti–Lwakhakha road to bitumen standards. The Busia and Malaba One Stop Border Posts will also be rehabilitated to enhance clearance and efficiency.
Speaking at the event, Uganda’s Minister for Works and Transport, Gen (Rtd.) Katumba Wamala, emphasised the corridor’s importance as the region’s main transport artery.
“The project aligns with Uganda’s Vision 2040, which seeks to modernise the country’s road network to world-class standards, targeting an average paved road density of 100 km per 1,000 sq. km,” Wamala said.
“The active participation of the private sector through Public–Private Partnerships and other blended financing models will be critical.”
EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, said the project would prioritise smart design and digital integration.
“Eighty percent of projects fail at the preparation stage. The support provided by EAC Development Partners has enabled the Community to prepare high-quality, bankable regional infrastructure projects that have successfully attracted both public and private financing,” he said.
Participants at the conference reviewed feasibility findings, traffic projections, and cost estimates, all confirming the project’s strong technical and economic viability.
The expressway is expected to symbolise East Africa’s push for seamless regional integration and shared economic growth.
