Parliament has backed the proposal by Ministry of Works and Transport to spend Shs7Bn on the clearance of the Lake Victoria swamp as part of the preparation activities for the construction of New Kampala Port in Bukasa.
This followed the presentation of the report on the 2025/26 Ministerial Policy Statement for the Ministry of Works and Transport by Tony Awany, Vice Chairperson, Parliament’s Physical Infrastructure Committee last week.
“The Committee noted that in the FY2025/26, the project has been allocated UGX3Bn against a funding requirement of UGX 7Bn. The Ministry plans to complete 62.5% cumulative swamp removal and complete reclamation works as well as compensate 72.5 No. of PAPs in the next FY,” said Awany.
He defended the recommendation noting, “The Committee takes cognizance of the need for alternative routes for both domestic and international cargo and the adverse effects this cargo has on the Country’s national roads and consequently recommends that the Ministry be allocated additional funding to a tune of UGX 4 billion to enable it complete the first phase of the project.”
Parliament was informed of Government’s intentions to construct a port at Bukasa near Kampala to address the future traffic demands across Lake Victoria. The planned infrastructure developments involve the construction of the Port and associated Marine Transport Services and development of rail and road links to the Port.
According to the Ministry of Works and Transport, this new port will form part of the Central Corridor Route from Kampala, across Lake Victoria to Mwanza and Musoma and then on to the Indian Ocean ports of Tanga and Dar-es-Salaam.
The main purpose of the project is to develop a second cargo route to the Indian Ocean in favour of Uganda and its neighbours and the project will be undertaken as a Public Private Partnership engagement where GAUFF is the private entity whose role includes acting as Technical Consultant, Project Manager, Procurement Agent and Technical Assistant for Port Operation and Training.
The Committee further revealed that GAUFF has developed a holistic and comprehensive approach for all Ugandan Lake Victoria Ports, with Port Bell as passenger port, while Jinja Pier will serve as industrial port and Bukasa Port as the main cargo port.
“The Bukasa port will address the future traffic demand across Lake Victoria. The planned infrastructure developments involve the construction of the Port and associated Marine Transport Services and development of rail and road links to the Port,” said Awany.
The Ministry of Works and Transport also indicated that the Port will be constructed in three Phases, which include; the Preparation stage which is expected to be completed by June 2025; The Construction stage of Inland Port at Bukasa that will handle a capacity of 2.3 million tons per year including the construction of shipyard and floating dock.
This Phase is expected to be completed by June 2028 and the final or third stage that will include future extension of the Port to handle a capacity of 5.2 million tons per year and to maximum peak of 7.5 million tons per year. This Phase is expected to be completed by 2030.
