The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has plans to launch by 2015 a tender process to develop the Kampala - Jinja Expressway through a public - private partnership (PPP) project.

The project involves the development of a six-lane 77-km road project. The project aims to improve road infrastructure in Uganda, improve road safety and facilitate trade and tourism.

The project will be developed on a design, build, finance and operation (DBFO) basis.

The total project investment is estimated at around US$1 billion.

IFC was appointed by the UNRA to provide advisory services for the structuring and implementation of the tender process for the selection of a private concessionaire for the greenfield Kampala to Jinja expressway with an option to include the Kampala Southern Bypass.

IFC assistance will cover all project pre-investment activities including due diligence review, transaction structuring, marketing and promotion, contract preparation and development of tender documents, as well as supporting UNRA during the bidding process up to the award of the concession contract. The IFC will manage US$2million of donor funding to be utilized in the project.

IMC Worldwide was selected to act as specialist Environmental and Social advisors to the PPP transaction advisory team. SPEA Autostrade was selected as technical advisor for the project.

Uganda began the PPP policy in 2010. The country currently has three PPP projects in tender stage:

• Makerere University PPP project
• Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) office building on BOT
• Kampala Waste Management PPP

In early April this year IFC launched a tender process to select a consultancy firm to create Uganda's tolling policy. The consulting services included the development of a tolling policy framework and the development of a suite of policy and procedure documents to help the government to make key decisions.