The Ugandan government has issued a firm 90-day ultimatum to Chongqing International Construction Company, demanding that the contractor immediately begin tarmacking works on the long-delayed Masaka–Mutukula Road or face termination of its contract.
Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, announced the directive following continued delays on the 89.5-kilometre road project, which was launched in 2024 under a pre-financing arrangement with the Chinese construction company.
The Masaka–Mutukula Road is considered one of Uganda’s most strategic transport corridors. It connects Uganda to neighbouring Tanzania through the Mutukula border and plays a critical role in facilitating regional trade, the movement of goods, and cross-border travel. Once completed, the road is expected to improve transport efficiency, reduce travel time, and boost economic activity for communities along the route.
Despite its importance, progress on the project has remained slow. The construction has reportedly been hampered by disagreements over road designs and implementation challenges, leaving residents, traders, and motorists waiting far longer than expected for the road’s completion.
Expressing the government’s dissatisfaction with the pace of work, Minister Byamukama warned that the contractor has only three months to mobilise and commence tarmacking works. Failure to meet the deadline, he said, will leave the government with no option but to terminate the contract and consider alternative measures to ensure the project is completed.
The ultimatum signals growing pressure from the government to deliver key infrastructure projects on schedule, especially those considered vital to Uganda’s economic development and regional integration.
For residents and businesses that rely on the Masaka–Mutukula route, the next 90 days could determine whether the long-awaited road project finally gains momentum or undergoes another major setback.
