Uganda has signed a civil works contract for the construction of a new Karuma Bridge on the Kampala-Gulu Highway, marking a major milestone in replacing the 63-year-old crossing.
The project, financed by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and to be executed by Zenitaka Corporation, aims to improve road safety, connectivity, trade and regional integration along one of Uganda’s busiest transport corridors. 
The new 240-metre elevated cable-stayed bridge, valued at about Shs121 billion, will be built 12 metres above the existing bridge, eliminating sharp bends, easing traffic flow and accommodating heavier traffic for an estimated 120 years.
Construction is expected to begin after the August 2026 groundbreaking ceremony and take three to four years. The current bridge, built in 1963, will remain in use for light vehicles and motorcycles, while the new structure will handle regional traffic.
Government says the project will reduce travel delays, improve safety and strengthen trade between central and northern Uganda, as well as neighbouring South Sudan.
