Northern Bypass reopens to traffic after completion of repair works

The Kampala Northern Bypass has reopened to traffic following the completion of rehabilitation works on the Namungoona–Bwaise section, the Ministry of Works and Transport announced on Monday.

“Asphalt laying works along the Kampala Northern Bypass have now been completed — 100%,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the section was expected to reopen by 10:00am once the contractor, Stirling Civil Engineering, had removed all machinery and equipment from the site.

Road marking remains outstanding and will be carried out in the coming days. The ministry said this final stage would be done with minimal or no disruption to traffic flow.

The reopening follows a directive issued last week by Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama, who gave the contractor seven days to complete the works and ruled out any extension. The maintenance project, valued at Shs67 billion, had taken three years.

“You cannot work on a 21-kilometre road for three years and then come asking for an extension. We are not extending this contract,” Byamukama said during an inspection of the project.

The minister described the project as “a mess,” saying the prolonged construction had caused severe traffic congestion, led travellers to miss flights, discouraged investors and inconvenienced tourists entering the country through Kampala. He instructed the contractor to deploy additional manpower and equipment to meet the deadline and to remove all equipment from the site once the works were finished.

Stirling Civil Engineering has not publicly responded to the minister’s remarks.

The current phase of works began in February 2026, when the ministry closed the carriageway between the Bwaise and Namungoona interchanges for the removal of old asphalt, preparation of the road base and laying of a new asphalt overlay. The works were initially expected to last at least two months but ran for approximately five. During this period, the affected carriageway was fully closed, with traffic diverted to the opposite side to allow two-way movement — an arrangement that caused significant congestion, particularly during peak hours.

The Northern Bypass is one of Kampala’s most important transport arteries. The 22.5-kilometre dual carriageway forms a semi-circle across the city’s northern suburbs, connecting industrial zones, residential areas and the Entebbe Expressway, and allows cross-country traffic moving between eastern and western Uganda to avoid the congested city centre. It was first opened in 2009 and expanded to a four-lane dual carriageway by 2022, with interchanges at key junctions including Bwaise, Kalerwe and Namungoona.

The road has undergone frequent maintenance over the years, with works reported almost every financial year. Some motorists have questioned the repeated repairs, but the ministry maintains that regular maintenance is necessary to address wear caused by heavy commercial traffic and to prevent more extensive damage. Permanent Secretary Bageya Waiswa, speaking when the current phase began, said maintaining the bypass was essential because it serves as “a lifeline for trade and daily commuting in Kampala.”

The reopening is expected to significantly ease traffic flow along the corridor and restore normal journey times for motorists using the route.