By Business Insider Correspondent
East Africa’s most vital trade route – the Northern Corridor – is set for a major transformation following confirmation that the Kisumu–Busia / Kakira–Malaba Multinational Expressway project is both feasible and investment-ready.
The milestone, announced during a high-level Market Sounding Conference in Kampala, marks a turning point for regional logistics and business efficiency between Kenya and Uganda, and by extension, the entire East African Community (EAC).
The project, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and implemented under the EAC framework, will modernise a nearly 200-kilometre stretch of one of Africa’s busiest transport corridors.
It aims to drastically cut travel time, decongest border towns, and reduce the cost of doing business by improving the flow of goods and people between the port of Mombasa and the landlocked economies of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A lifeline for trade and logistics
Once completed, the expressway will become a key driver of regional trade competitiveness, linking industrial and agricultural zones across Kenya and Uganda with export markets.
The project will feature dual carriageways, upgraded border posts, and modern logistics infrastructure to facilitate seamless transport for cargo and passengers.
In Uganda, plans include constructing a 60-kilometre greenfield expressway between Jinja and Busesa through a Public–Private Partnership (PPP), alongside upgrades of the Busesa–Malaba and Busitema–Busia sections. On the Kenyan side, works will include dualling the Kisumu bypass and upgrading the Kimaeti–Lwakhakha road to bitumen standard.
The Busia and Malaba One Stop Border Posts will also undergo major rehabilitation to improve customs efficiency and clearance times.
Experts say the project will slash cargo transit times between Mombasa and Kampala from two days to under 12 hours – a development expected to save millions of dollars in annual freight costs.
“This expressway is not just a road – it’s an economic artery,” said Eng. Charles Obuon, Director of Public–Private Partnerships at the Kenya National Highways Authority. “It will unlock trade, attract investment, and reduce logistics costs across the region.”
Catalyst for business and regional integration
The Northern Corridor handles over 70 percent of EAC’s international trade, carrying everything from fuel and machinery to agricultural produce.
Businesses have long faced delays due to poor road conditions, heavy congestion, and inefficient border procedures. The new expressway is expected to transform the ease of doing business, reducing turnaround times for manufacturers, exporters, and transport companies.
For Uganda, the expressway aligns with Vision 2040, which targets world-class transport infrastructure to support industrialisation.
“The project supports our goal to modernise the road network and attract private sector participation through PPPs,” said Uganda’s Minister for Works and Transport, Gen (Rtd.) Katumba Wamala. “This is about turning infrastructure into opportunity.”
The corridor will also facilitate investment in logistics parks, industrial estates, and agro-processing zones along the route. Faster connectivity between Kenya’s Kisumu industrial area and Uganda’s Jinja and Iganga economic hubs is expected to boost cross-border value chains in agriculture, manufacturing, and energy.
A smart, sustainable corridor
The EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, emphasized that the project will integrate digital systems and climate-smart solutions – including intelligent transport systems, road safety technologies, and measures to mitigate environmental and social impacts.
“Eighty percent of infrastructure projects fail at the preparation stage,” he noted. “But with the strong support of our partners, this project is now a high-quality, bankable investment ready to attract financing from both public and private sectors.”
Unlocking regional competitiveness
The expressway is part of a broader network of multinational corridors that form the backbone of the EAC’s regional infrastructure programme.
These include the Arusha–Namanga–Athi River, Voi–Taveta/Holili–Moshi–Arusha, and Malindi–Lungalunga–Tanga–Bagamoyo highways — all designed to promote seamless regional mobility and integration.
Collectively, these projects aim to reduce transport costs by up to 30 percent, attract cross-border investments, and accelerate the free movement of goods and people under the EAC Common Market Protocol.
The business impact
For transporters, logistics firms, and exporters, the new expressway means reduced vehicle wear and tear, faster border clearance, and lower insurance and fuel costs. For small traders and manufacturers, it opens access to regional supply chains and export markets.
Economists project that once operational, the expressway could increase intra-EAC trade by 20%, spur new logistics investments, and boost GDP growth across member states.
“The Kisumu–Busia–Malaba corridor will be the backbone of East Africa’s trade competitiveness,” said one regional infrastructure analyst. “It will make it easier, faster, and cheaper to move goods – and that’s what drives business.”
A corridor of opportunity As East Africa prepares for a new phase of integration, the Kisumu–Busia/Kakira–Malaba expressway stands out as a flagship of connectivity – one that will turn miles of tarmac into engines of trade, investment, and opportunity.
