About the project

A program designed for handover, not handoff.

KOICA-backed Uganda expressway program delivering lifecycle integrated manuals and a KEE bridge-management pilot, with Korean expressway expertise and strong emphasis on localization, usability, and institutional handover.

Background & RationaleObjectives & OutputsKey Partners

5.2 — Background & Rationale

Why Uganda needs a unified expressway manual system

Uganda's expressway sector is growing rapidly, but the technical guidance available to engineers, contractors, and operators is fragmented. The IMME Project closes the gap with a single, lifecycle-oriented system.

Uganda's road network has expanded into expressway scale with the Kampala–Entebbe Expressway (KEE) and several upcoming projects. Until now, the country has relied on general highway standards adapted on an ad-hoc basis — leaving important domains under-specified.

The Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT), in partnership with Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), commissioned this program to consolidate planning, design, construction management, operation, and maintenance into a coherent set of manuals plus a Bridge Management System pilot on KEE. The manuals are designed to be picked up by a junior engineer in the field, on a smartphone, and used the same day.

5.2 — Objectives & Outputs

Outcomes Uganda will own after April 2026

Objective

Output

Improve lifecycle management of Uganda's expressways.

An integrated 6-manual system that tracks an expressway from planning to maintenance.

Reduce cost and time for expressway management.

Standardized procedures, KPIs, and a digital BMS to prioritize maintenance work.

Enable efficient and systematic expressway development.

Manuals localized to Uganda's institutions and aligned with ongoing projects.

Generate broader economic effectiveness for Uganda.

Capacity transfer (workshops, OJT, Korea invitations) so MoWT owns and sustains the manuals.

Outcome 1

Improved lifecycle management

Outcome 2

Reduced cost & time

Outcome 3

Efficient & systematic development

Outcome 4

Broader economic effectiveness

5.2 — Key Partners

Five organizations, one handover plan

KOICA funds. MoWT owns. KEC, DOHWA, and CHEIL deliver. The whole partner stack is structured so capacity and IP transfer entirely to Uganda by completion.

  • KOICA

    Funding agency, Republic of Korea

    Korea International Cooperation Agency — funds and oversees the program.

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  • MoWT (Uganda)

    Government counterpart and post-handover manual owner

    Ministry of Works and Transport, Republic of Uganda. Owns the manuals and the BMS after handover, with capacity transferred via OJT and workshops.

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  • Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC)

    Lead consultant — expressway expertise

    Korea's national expressway operator brings 50+ years of operations and maintenance know-how.

  • DOHWA Engineering

    Technical consultant

    Civil and transport infrastructure engineering, contributing to design, construction, and BMS.

  • CHEIL Engineering

    Technical consultant

    Specialist engineering input across maintenance and structures.