Uganda, South Sudan and CAR to build 1,800 km linking road

Uganda, South Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR) have signed off on a landmark regional highway that will stretch from Kampala to Bangui via Juba, opening what the three governments describe as a strategic trade and security corridor across East and Central Africa.

In a statement released through the Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology and Postal Services on Saturday, South Sudan’s Minister of Roads and Bridges, Simon Mijok Mijak confirmed “South Sudan has agreed with Uganda and Central African Republic to construct 1,800 km road beginning from Kampala to Bangui.”

He delivered the update after a three-day ministerial meeting in Kampala that settled both routing and financing strategy for the project. The ministers approved two Ugandan approach corridors, one running north-west through Arua and Oraba to Kaya, Yei and Juba, and another following the Kampala–Karuma–Nimule axis into South Sudan, before the highway turns west from Juba through Mundri, Maridi, Yambio, Yubu, Ezo and Bambouti to reach Obo and Sibut in CAR.

A shorter spur between Ezo, Source Yubu and Bambouti will provide a second South Sudan–CAR crossover.

The three countries agreed to mobilize funds jointly and created a Tripartite Technical Committee of transport, infrastructure, defense and finance officials to finalize designs, carry out feasibility studies and lead fund-raising with development partners.

Although the South Sudanese statement sets the planned length at 1,800 km, earlier communiqués in mid-May referenced a 1,100 km alignment. Officials say the longer figure reflects the addition of feeder spurs and rehabilitation works beyond the core Kampala–Juba–Bangui spine.

The Tripartite Technical Committee is expected to submit a detailed cost-and-financing plan to the three presidents by September. If partner funding is secured on schedule, ground works on the Ugandan side could start before the end of 2025, with full completion targeted within five to seven years, depending on security conditions along the South Sudan–CAR stretch.