The East African Community (EAC) has confirmed that construction of the long-awaited Kenya-Uganda Multinational Expressway will soon begin, marking a major step toward improving transport and trade across the region.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the regional bloc announced that the Kisumu–Busia/Kakira–Malaba corridor had been officially cleared as a viable and investment-ready infrastructure project.

“Kenya-Uganda Expressway good to go!” the EAC declared. “Movement between Kenya and Uganda via the Northern Corridor is set for transformation.”

The decision follows months of feasibility studies and discussions between Nairobi and Kampala, aimed at easing congestion, cutting travel time, and streamlining cross-border movement along one of East Africa’s busiest trade routes.

What Each Country Will Build

Under the agreement, Uganda will construct a new 60-kilometre expressway from Jinja to Busesa, developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). It will also dual the Busesa–Malaba and Busitema–Busia roads to improve traffic flow and road safety.

Kenya, meanwhile, will upgrade the Kisumu bypass and the Kimaeti–Lwakhakha road to bitumen standards. The country will also rehabilitate the Busia and Malaba One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) — a move expected to cut customs delays and ease freight clearance.

The expressway will form a key section of the Northern Transport Corridor, a strategic network that links the port of Mombasa to landlocked countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and eastern DRC.

A Turning Point for Regional Integration

According to Andrea Ariik Malueth, the EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, the project’s significance goes beyond asphalt and engineering.

“This project is not just about building a road; it is about creating a modern, safe, and efficient transport artery that connects businesses, people, and opportunities across East Africa,” Malueth said.

He added that the Market Sounding Conference, held to assess private sector interest, marked “a turning point in our efforts to establish a strategy for sustainable infrastructure development through private funding.”

The EAC has emphasised that private sector investment will be crucial to financing the expressway, which is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars once final designs are approved.

Funding and Feasibility

Earlier reports indicated that officials from both countries met last month to review the 193-kilometre project’s feasibility study, including proposed tolls, environmental assessments, and social impacts.

Experts believe the new expressway will significantly reduce transport costs, shorten travel times, and boost regional commerce, particularly for long-haul truck drivers and traders moving goods between Mombasa and Kampala.

Once completed, the route is expected to serve as a vital lifeline for East Africa’s economy, improving logistics efficiency and strengthening the region’s standing as a continental trade hub.