Uganda Today: Museveni Flags Off Historic Kayunga–Galiraaya Road Construction, Linking Buganda to Lango
By Uganda Today News Team | July 12, 2025
Kayunga, Uganda — In a highly symbolic and long-awaited gesture, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday officially flagged off the construction of the 87-kilometre Kayunga–Galiraaya road, a critical artery poised to enhance connectivity between Buganda and Lango sub-regions. The colourful ceremony, held in Kayunga District, marked the commencement of a project first envisioned more than half a century ago by Uganda’s former President Dr. Apollo Milton Obote.
The new road, which is expected to open up access from Kayunga in Buganda to Lira District in the Lango sub-region, traces its strategic historical importance to its passage through Galiraaya, where it connects to Lango via the Kawongo channel on Lake Kyoga.
Speaking at the function, President Museveni hailed the infrastructure project as not only a fulfillment of a long-standing national vision but also a cornerstone of Uganda’s development agenda. He acknowledged that the road was a dream first mooted in 1969 as part of a grand regional integration and transport development scheme to link Uganda’s central and northern regions through the Kyoga corridor.
“This road is a testimony to Uganda’s resilience in pursuing strategic national goals despite historical disruptions. It links people. It links production to markets. It is also a bridge between our past aspirations and our future prosperity,” Museveni said, drawing applause from the crowds of residents, local leaders, and dignitaries in attendance.
A Gift from the People to the Nation
In a rare demonstration of patriotic commitment, several landowners along the proposed road corridor voluntarily offered portions of their land to facilitate the construction — without demanding compensation. This act of generosity was lauded by both the president and local leaders as a powerful example of citizen-driven development.
“I want to salute the people of Kayunga and Galiraaya for putting national interest above personal gain. This spirit of sacrifice is what built countries like China and should inspire us all as Ugandans,” Museveni remarked.
Chinese Engineering, Ugandan Oil-Funded
The construction work will be undertaken by China Chia Bridge Company (CBC), a reputable Chinese engineering firm with a long track record of infrastructure development in Africa. The project, which will include several bridges, drainage works, and culverts to ease transportation across the swampy and riverine terrain, is projected to be completed within 24 months.
The cost of the road is estimated at USD 57 million, and the Ugandan government has committed to financing it through deferred payments, leveraging future revenues from the country’s oil sector. This marks one of the first major infrastructure projects directly linked to Uganda’s oil development strategy, as the country anticipates commercial oil production to commence in 2026.
Bridging Regions, Opening Economies
The road is expected to significantly reduce the travel time and cost between Kayunga and Lira, catalyzing trade, agriculture, and tourism across the Kyoga basin. It also provides a vital link for agro-produce from Kayunga, Kamuli, Buyende, and Galiraaya to access northern markets, and vice versa.
Kayunga District Chairperson, Mr. Andrew Muwonge, hailed the road as a lifeline for the region’s farmers, fishermen, and entrepreneurs. “For decades, our people have struggled to move their goods and access services across Lake Kyoga. This road will not only connect regions but also unlock jobs and economic opportunities,” he said.
The groundbreaking ceremony featured traditional music, cultural dances, and a display of solidarity across ethnic lines — Buganda, Lango, and the Kyoga corridor — as residents gathered to witness history being made.
A Fulfilled Promise, a Renewed Hope
While Uganda’s infrastructure development has often drawn both praise and criticism, the Kayunga–Galiraaya road stands out for its symbolic and practical significance. More than just tarmac and gravel, it represents continuity between Uganda’s post-independence ambitions and its current journey toward socio-economic transformation.
As the sun set over Lake Kyoga yesterday evening, with construction equipment lined up and engineers preparing to break ground, the message was clear: after 56 years, a presidential vision had finally found its wheels — with Uganda driving the course.
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