The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $109m loan to fund the Road Sector Support Project V in Uganda.

The project supports the realisation of the national development plan and Vision 2040 of Uganda, which aims to improve road access to socio-economic facilities.

It will also improve the quality of transport service levels in south-western and eastern parts of Uganda by upgrading the Rukungiri-Kihihi-Ishasha/Kanungu and Bumbobi-Lwakhakha roads from gravel to bitumen-standard.

"The African Development Bank is addressing a pressing demand for the provision of good quality and reliable transport infrastructure needed by Uganda."

Not only will the funding help improve the living standards of its beneficiaries, but it also aims to support the tourism industry and promote regional integration and cross-border trade by linking western Uganda with Congo and eastern Uganda with Kenya at the border of Ishasha and Lwakhakha respectively.

Additional benefits of the project include lower transport costs, increased mobility, improved access to economic and social facilities, provision of clean water to households and an increased income for female vendors in the roadside markets.

Speaking about the project, AfDB department for transport and information and communication technologies director Amadou Oumarou said: "With this project, the African Development Bank is addressing a pressing demand for the provision of good quality and reliable transport infrastructure needed by Uganda for its socio-economic development and poverty reduction agenda."

The project is in line with AfDB’s 2011-2015 results-based country strategy paper, which focuses on infrastructure for development and increased agriculture productivity.