While infrastructure in East Africa and Africa at large has immensely improved in recent years, roads have been a key part of development in each country.
These roads have eased transportation within the region, enabling businesses to thrive and boosting economic development in countries.
However, the construction of these roads comes with high costs, which has attracted significant attention.
In this segment, Times Digital Kenya uncovers the most expensive road in East Africa and how much it cost.
Which Road is the Most Expensive?
The Kampala–Entebbe Expressway in Uganda is widely considered the most expensive in the region, which includes powerhouses like Kenya.
With four lanes featuring 19 overpasses, bridges, underpasses, and three interchanges, the 51 km road connects Entebbe International Airport to Kampala.
It has significantly reduced traffic congestion, cutting travel time from around two hours to approximately 30–40 minutes.
Cost Breakdown
Although the Kampala–Entebbe Expressway is approximately 51.5 km long, it is the most expensive road in East Africa, mainly due to its high cost per kilometre.
The construction of the road was funded by the Ugandan government in collaboration with China’s Exim Bank at a cost of around $476 million.
The government provided USD 126 million (approximately 26.4% of the funding), while the EXIM Bank of China provided USD 350 million (approximately 73.5%) as a loan repayable over 40 years.
In addition, the Ugandan administration paid landowners roughly USD 33–35 million in compensation, which also contributed to the high construction cost of the road.
The supervision cost was also another factor, with Beijing Expressway Supervision Co. Ltd awarded a tender worth USD 4.9 million.
All in all, the expenditure per kilometre of the Kampala–Entebbe Expressway was a major factor in its high overall cost, with each kilometre costing about USD 9.2 million, making it the most expensive road in East Africa.
