SALINI the firm constructing the Kampala Northern Bypass has imported euros 600,000 equipment from Nigeria in order to speed up completion of the road in preparation for the CHOGM in November.

The project manager, Mel England has said that, “a request was made by government that we guarantee to finish the road, we are bringing additional equipment…to complete the road. We will hand over the road by November 15, this year.”

The recently imported equipment includes a compressor used for blowing off dust during construction, crates of spare parts, graders, huge bitumen machine and road pavers.

Mel attributed delays in the project to a number of reasons such as compensation problems at some points of the road and court interferences. However, the government is sorting out the issue. Other hindrances include; heavy rains and design problems have also contributed to delaying the project.
He revealed that, they have to wait for some swampy areas to settle before they proceed with work. He however, said that the project has reached at 75% level of completion, “when we give time for materials to dry, people think we are not working; there are 7km of swamps, which we have to fill with rocks, put materials and leave them to settle for 12 months” he explained.

The 21km bypass is the ring way around Kampala established to decongest traffic from the city centre roads, upon its completion. This will be designed in the city centre roads, upon its completion. This will be designed in a way that all heavy traffic heading from eastern to western and northern Uganda will be diverted to this route.

The project also aims at improving incomes and social welfare of Ugandans, at the moment there are approximately 700 natives working on the project. In addition, the bypass will reduce depreciation of city roads.