Residents and business owners in Mukono District are witnessing major changes in their livelihoods following the ongoing construction of the Ntenjeru-Bule Road.
During an inspection tour by district officials on Thursday of the 7.8-kilometre road project under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP), leaders said the project is already sparking revival in the area.
Alice Nakimuli, a resident of Bujiji village, said for years the area struggled with poor accessibility, especially during the dry season when deep gullies caused by erosion made roads nearly impassable. Transporting goods to nearby markets such as Ggaba, 2.5 kilometres away, was costly and unreliable, eating into traders’ profits.
‘We could barely move vehicles or even motorcycles,’ she said. ‘Most of the money they earned went straight into transport costs.’
However, since construction works began, the situation has dramatically improved. Mobility has eased, businesses are reopening, and new opportunities are emerging.
The community liaison officer, Mr. Emmanuel Mbonye, said the improved road network has triggered a rapid increase in population, with local leaders estimating that the number of residents has nearly doubled within months of the project’s commencement.
Education institutions are also benefiting. Kamda Secondary School, which previously had about 230 students, has seen enrollment surge to approximately 700. New private schools are also being established in response to the growing population.
Mr Mbonye said tourism and hospitality businesses, once crippled by poor road conditions, are bouncing back. Beaches such as Mutora, Mutima, and Adventure Park, along with Lagoon Resort, had previously shut down operations but are now undergoing renovations in anticipation of renewed business.
Rental housing demand has also skyrocketed. ‘Previously, the cost was between Shs20,000 and Shs70,000, but now better rentals range from Shs150,000 to Shs200,000,’ he said.
The area has been earmarked as a future satellite city, an extension of Kampala, due to increasing urban pressure in the capital.
Local leaders are now advocating for additional infrastructure, including a ferry docking site to enhance connectivity. Discussions are ongoing with landowners to secure land for the proposed facility.
‘If the road ends here without a ferry connection, it will look incomplete,’ Mr. Mbonye said. ‘But with the ferry, this will become a major transport link.’
According to Martha Rwaboona, a representative from China Railway No. 5, the contractor handling Phase One of the 7.8 kilometres, the project began on July 9, 2025, and is scheduled to run for 18 months.
As of now, the project stands at approximately 30 per cent completion, slightly below the expected 32 per cent progress mark.
Key infrastructure components such as culverts are nearing completion: 12 out of 13 cross pipe culverts are completed, 2 out of 6 box culverts are completed, with 1 midway.
Despite minor delays caused by heavy rains and challenges related to physical cultural resources, contractors remain confident the project will be completed within schedule. Phase One of the road is valued at Shs35.7 billion, funded by the World Bank.