A Chinese state-owned company, China Railway 17th Bureau Group Company has pledged to partner with
a local contractor in the construction of the 95km Kampala – Jinja expressway (KJE).

Mr He Ping, the company’s chairman for Africa business led a delegation to President Yoweri Museveni‘s home in Rwakitura and promised to finance the project.

“if given the opportunity they would partner with a local contractor to have the Kampala-Jinja Expressway successfully constructed.” a statement from the State House read.

Mr Museveni gave a directive to Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija and other concerned agencies to discuss the proposal with the chinese company. 

However, although the company had in October written to Unra expressing interest in the project, the Unra director for Roads and Bridges, Mr Samuel Muhoozi told Daily Monitor yesterday that procurement for the project had reached advanced stages and investors already injected in money.

“It is difficult to reverse the procurement anyhow and it is not in order. It is a good idea to partner with local contractors but if the company wants, they can participate in the upcoming projects,” Engineer Muhoozi said.