Africa Round-up

UGANDA

Financing agreement for the Kampala-Jinja Expressway Project

The African Development Bank and the government of Uganda recently signed a US$229.5 million (R3.22 billion) financing agreement for the first phase of the Kampala-Jinja Expressway Project, which will cut travel time and boost trade along an important artery linking Uganda with its neighbours.

“This is a public-private partnership (PPP) that will reduce travel time from more than three hours to under one hour between Jinja and Kampala along the northern corridor, linking Uganda to neighbours Rwanda, Burundi, the DRC, South Sudan and Kenya,” announced Matia Kasaija, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, after the signing.

Private sector participation and financing of a key piece of infrastructure in Uganda will yield a significant economic return for the country, with an estimated net revenue of $2.1 billion (R29.4 billion) over the 30-year concession period.

The project comprises the Kampala-Jinja Mainline Expressway and the Kampala Southern Urban Bypass (KSB). The works will be implemented in two sections. Section 1 is an urban expressway including KSB (18 km) and 35 km of the main expressway from Kampala to Namagunga. Section 2 is a rural motorway covering 42 km from Namagunga to Jinja.

The Uganda National Roads Authority is the executing agency and has already commenced the procurement of a private concessionaire on a design-build-finance-operate-transfer basis under the Availability Payment PPP model.

MOZAMBIQUE

Temporary bridges to replace infrastructure destroyed in cyclones

The African Development Bank has finalised the purchase of 26 modular steel bridges to replace infrastructure that was destroyed in weather disasters in Mozambique. The modular bridges are due to be installed in the coming months after the appointment of local contractors. The goal is to restore transport connections to the isolated regions of Manica, Sofala, Nampula and Cabo Delgado. An estimated 500 000 people are expected to benefit from their installation.

With a service lifespan of up to 100 years, the bridges will provide a temporary solution in areas that are vulnerable to extreme weather while the government invests in climate-smart permanent bridges.

The bridges are funded under the Post Cyclone Idai and Kenneth Emergency Recovery and Resilience Programme, which was approved in the wake of these two cyclones that struck Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi in 2019, affecting around three million people across the three countries.

Central Mozambique has been hit by extreme climate events in recent years. Cyclones Idai and Kenneth passed through the same region of the country in March and April 2019, also affecting neighbouring countries. Disaster struck again with Tropical Storm Chalane in December 2020 and Cyclone Eloise in January 2021.

KENYA

Another substation to minimise outages

Kenya Power has launched a 33/11 kV substation in Mtondia, Kilifi. The new substation, which cost US$2.326 million (R32.6 million), comprises four distribution lines (feeders). It is one of four substations the power utility is constructing within Kilifi County at a total cost of $11.77 million (R164.87 million) under the Kenya Electricity Modernisation Project (KEMP). The other substations are Sabaki 33/11 kV, Kaloleni 33/11 kV and Kokotoni 33/11 kV.

Bernard Ngugi, managing director and CEO, Kenya Power, says: “Between 2013 and now, Kilifi County has registered a 260% growth in customer numbers – from 51 821 households to the current 186 403 households. This has seen access improve from 21% to 71%.” Kenya Power is the country’s sole electricity off-taker and currently has a customer base of over eight million.