Uganda is fast-tracking land acquisition for the proposed Mulwanda border road linking the country to Kenya, a project expected to provide an alternative route for heavy trucks and ease congestion at the busy Busia border crossing.
Uganda's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, on Sunday, October 11, directed the Ministry of Works to speed up land acquisition to allow construction of the road and the opening of the border crossing.
The directive followed concerns raised by Uganda's Parliament Speaker, Jacob Oboth, who questioned the government's delay in opening the border, noting that Kenya had already tarmacked its section of the road.
According to Oboth, only about 12 kilometres of road on the Ugandan side, from Lumino to the border, remained unpaved.
Kenya-Uganda border crossing post in Busia County.
Photo
Ministry of Interior
"The Kenyan government has already completed its road up to the border river at Mulwanda. What remains is Uganda's 12-kilometre stretch from Lumino, which is still unpaved," Oboth claimed.
In response, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that it had ordered the relevant ministry to begin land acquisition for the road construction and ensure the border is operational in due time.
"I have instructed the Works Ministry to fast-track the acquisition of land for the Mulwanda Border; your message will reinforce the process," Kadaga said.
According to reports, the Mulwanda border is expected to divert heavy commercial trucks from the Busia crossing, which has recently been experiencing traffic congestion.
Busia Governor Paul Otuoma said opening the Mulwanda crossing would fulfil a longstanding ambition of communities on both sides of the border.
He also argued that, besides reducing congestion, the new border will reduce road accidents witnessed in Busia town and along the border.
In April, the Kenyan government announced that the Mulwanda border matter had already been proposed and that the two governments were in discussions to operationalise the border post.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told Parliament that Uganda had proposed beginning work to operationalise the border in May 2026.
“The Republic of Uganda has proposed that the said activities begin in May 2026, including the tarmacking of the roads to the border,” Mudavadi said.
Once operational, the Mulwanda border post is expected to divert heavy commercial trucks from the Busia crossing, easing traffic congestion on the Kenyan side.
Workers working on a section of the Kisumu-Busia Road, July 22, 2024.
Photo
Busia County