Uganda drags out award of road projects as bidders threaten withdrawal

The Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) has failed to award contracts for the Busega-Mpigi expressway and the Masaka-Bukakata road despite one year having elapsed since the bid opening. Dubai-based Al Naboodah was the lowest evaluated bidder for the 41km Masaka-Bukakata road and  has officially withdrawn from the project. Four further firms have warned of their reluctance to participate in any more Unra projects. 

The government acquired a $151 million loan from the African Development Bank for the construction of the expressway and  $70 million from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for the road building.