The ongoing tarmacking project of the 73-kilometer Kapchorwa-Suam Road that links Kapchorwa, the district capital of Kapchorwa District to Suam, in the Eastern Region of Uganda, is set to be completed early next year.
This was announced by Eng. Samuel Muhoozi, the Director for Roads and Bridges Development at Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), a government agency whose mandate is to develop and maintain the national roads network, advise the government on general roads policy, contribute to the addressing of national transport concerns, and perform certain other functions.
Kapchorwa-Suam Road project overview
With most of the road within Mount Elgon National Park, the Kapchorwa-Suam road which before the tarmacking project was entirely gravel surface, starts at Kapchorwa and moves in a westerly direction to Kween, and then in a southerly direction to Bukwo before finally ending at Suam, on the banks of the Suam River, which forms the border between Kenya and Uganda.
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Other than the tarmacking works, the project involves the construction of 11 high-standard bridges, 23 box culverts, and installation of 191 pipe culverts, not to mention the construction of 20km town roads, 10-foot bridges, and a one stop border post at Suam.
Significance of the project
The Kapchorwa-Suam Road, which is a part of the Kapchorwa-Suam-Kitale is expected to improve cross-border trade between Kenya and Uganda upon completion. It will particularly enhance connectivity, stimulate activity, and ease the movement of people, goods, and services between the two East African countries.
The project is being carried out by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) financed through loans from the African Development Bank (ADB) and African Development Fund (ADF).
