Infrastructure is a key priority of the Ugandan Government. During the past few years, infrastructure development has contributed immensely to increased productivity by facilitating efficient connectivity and easing the movement of goods and the provision of services.

Infrastructure funding currently comprises about 32.8% of the Government’s total annual expenditure.

Road Transport

The road network includes the national road network, city road network, as well as district, urban and community access roads. In line with the Government’s target of starting commercial oil production by 2020, physical works on three oil roads equivalent to 363km out of 600km are under way. This will help the development of an oil and gas industrial park in western Uganda and the promotion of business start-ups.

Railway Transport

The Government of Uganda is committed to the development of the national railway system as the cheapest means of transport. The rail sub-sector is set to undergo major changes, including upgrading from the meter gauge rail (1 067mm) to the standard gauge (1 435mm).

The air transport system is served by 47 aerodromes distributed evenly throughout the country. Of these, 14 are owned, operated and managed by Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), including Entebbe International Airport which is the main entry and exit point for international traffic.

The Government has designated five other airports as entry/exit (international) points to promote trade and tourism. These are Arua, Gulu, Pakuba, Kidepo and Kasese. The rest of the aerodromes are owned, operated and managed by the private sector and local authorities.

The government has revived the National Airline, Uganda Airline to fully support the aviation industry. It is also developing Kabale International Airport in the Albertine region in the western Uganda to service the oil sector

Inland Water Transport

Water transport is one of the quickest and cheapest means of transport in Uganda.  The country is endowed with 18 inland water ports spread across the different water bodies, most of which are on Lake Victoria, which are plied by more than 170 vessels carrying an estimated 6 to 8 million passengers a year.

The Government is increasing investment in water transport infrastructure to enhance the movement of both passenger and cargo traffic. The underexploited infrastructure provides a viable investment opportunity, especially for the increasing tourism market and intra-regional trade activities.

Energy Infrastructure

The total electricity generation capacity is currently 1,200MW. A total of 17 hydro and solar power projects are under construction and an additional 800MW will be added to the national grid. The Government is adding 726.3km of electricity transmission lines to the network.

ICT Infrastructure

Uganda’s National Backbone Infrastructure, an initiative that aims to connect all major towns within the country to an optical fibre cable-based network and to connect Government entities to the e-Government Network, has been extended to districts countrywide.

The total span of fibre optic cables laid out across the country by both the government and private sector is 5,110km, providing seamless connections. Additionally, in order to provide faster internet speeds, 4G technologies have been rolled out with the objective of transforming access to public and private spectrums as well as promoting e-commerce to boost economic growth and efficiency