Governance of Transport Corridors in OIC Member States:
Challenges, Cases and Policy Lessons
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Annex 4 Desk research results on selected OIC member countries
UGANDA
Corridor Objectives and political support
The Northern Corridor is a very important part of the overall economic strategy of the Ugandan
government. As a landlocked country, Uganda’s ties and contacts with neighbouring states are of the
utmost importance. As such, regional integration is high on the list of policy priorities. In a self-
assessment report from 2017 the government states that “Uganda has embraced regional integration
and is a member to four (4) regional integration arrangements […]. The overall objective of this policy
is to improve market access and competitiveness of Uganda firms within the East African market to
enable Ugandans to reap the benefits of integration” (APRM, 2017).
The Ugandan (and Kenyan) government have asked the Government of Japan to help them design a
Master Plan to further promote regional development. This plan is to be implemented by the year
2030. In this plan (from 2014) the main objective is “to provide for the development of transport
infrastructure in the region by among other things, transforming the Corridor into an economic
development corridor that offers internationally competitive transit transport services.” There is to be
an “integrated regional development strategy consistent with sub-regional development plans and
national development plans” (ERM, 2016). In Uganda, the responsibility for this project lies with the
ministry of Work and Transport.68
The corridor governance can be regarded as part of a larger plan of economic integration in the region:
“The Government of Uganda is committed to the ideals of East African Community (EAC) Integration.
It has been at the forefront of promoting the objectives of the East African Community together with
the development of the EAC region for the benefit of the present and future generations. Integration
into the EAC is integral to Uganda‘s overall development agenda. […] Therefore, the National Policy on
EAC Integration is the guiding framework to Uganda‘s successful engagement and integration into the
EAC. The overall objective of this policy is to improve market access and competitiveness of Ugandan
firms within the EAC as a means to enable Ugandans reap the benefits of integration.” (APRM, 2017).
As the responsible party for the implementation of this Master Plan, the Ugandan Ministry of Works
and Transport “has a mandate to plan, develop and maintain an economic, efficient and effective
transport infrastructure; and transport services by road, rail, water, and air.” They have the power to
manage public works and oversee and implement construction standards (APRM, 2017).
The importance of the Corridor (and other regional transport initiatives) to the Ugandan government
can be seen from the fact that the biggest part of the National budget is, and will continue to be, spent
on the Works and Transport sector. Good transport infrastructure is regarded as the main factor in
Uganda’s ambitions for social reform and economic growth (ERM, 2016). “The Government of Uganda
is committed to improving all aspects of transport as a basis to improve the movement of goods and
services across the country and linking Uganda with the region.” (APRM, 2017).
Institutional Framework
As we’ve established, the main responsibility for governance of the Northern Corridor within the
Ugandan Government lies with the Ministry of Work and Transport. However, the overall governance
for the corridor is being overseen by the Northern Corridor Transit Transport Coordination Authority
(NCTTCA). According to the Master Plan: “The organizational and regulatory framework for logistics
and multi- modal transportation needs to be established at the regional level. Regional coordination
for planning and monitoring for the NEC is so far being implemented by the Northern Corridor Transit
Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA). NCTTCA’s coordination function with concerned
ministries for both Kenya and Uganda should be maintained. On the other hand, regional coordination
mechanisms and private sector involvement are being developed through the Northern Corridor
Integration Projects (NCIP).” (ERM, 2016).
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