A high level delegation from Japan led by Senior Vice President Ando Naoki met with the Hon. Minister of State for Transport-Hon. Fred Byamukama on 16th October 2024 discussed the progress of various JICA funded projects.
The projects include: New Bridge across River Nile at Jinja, Upgrading of Atiak -Nimule Road, Kampala Flyover Construction and Road Upgrading Project, Traffic Control Project, Project for Improvement of National Road in Refugee-hosting Areas of West Nile Sub-region, Improvement of Gulu Municipality Roads Project, and Capacity Development for Improvement of Road Construction and Maintenance Project
The Minister appreciated the contribution of the Government of Japan to the development of transport infrastructure in Uganda.
At the same meeting, it was emphasized that completed projects such as the Nile bridge, Atiak - Nimule road needed to be adequately maintained.
Similarly, discussions on the financing of phase 2 of the Kampala Flyover project, equipment for road maintenance needed to be concluded.
The delegated informed the Minister that they had done field visits to the Karuma Bridge and the Mmanibe -Yumbe refugee roads project.
Furthermore it was observed that studies were being undertaken by JICA on the construction of the new Karuma Bridge.
There was need to fast track this project as it not only provided connectivity to Northern Uganda but also regional connectivity to South Sudan and Congo.
The Japanese delegation congratulated the Government of Uganda on the important milestone of signing the contract for the construction of the Standard Gauge railway.