DRC to Begin Asphalting Kasindi-Beni-Butembo Roads in 2026 Under $551M Uganda-DRC Infrastructure Project
Asphalting work on the Kasindi–Beni (80 km) and Beni–Butembo (54 km) road sections in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is set to begin in the first quarter of 2026, according to Steven Nyembo, site supervisor for Dott Services Ltd, the contracted construction firm.
These upgrades form part of a larger cross-border infrastructure project officially launched in June 2021 by the presidents of DRC and Uganda.
The initiative aims to enhance regional connectivity, stimulate bilateral trade, and support peacebuilding in the conflict-affected eastern DRC.
The broader project also includes the Bunagana–Rutshuru–Goma road (89 km), bringing the total project length to 223 kilometers with a combined estimated cost of $551.6 million.
Under the financing model, Dott Services Ltd will fund 60% of the project, while the Congolese and Ugandan governments will each contribute 20%.
The investment will be recouped through a toll system, with reduced fees subsidized by state contributions.
The public-private concession is set for a minimum of 15 years, and construction is planned to take three years, according to Congolese Infrastructure Minister Alexis Gisaro.
The project has experienced several setbacks. Security issues, particularly rebel activity by the M23 movement, disrupted progress on the Bunagana–Rutshuru–Goma section.
Meanwhile, work on the Kasindi–Beni–Butembo corridor was suspended for over a year due to contractual disputes — notably the lack of tax exemptions on construction equipment imported from Uganda.
To address these barriers, the DRC and Uganda signed an amendment to their agreement on October 16, 2024, formally granting the necessary tax exemptions for equipment.
Following a March 2025 visit by Uganda’s Minister of Public Works, General Edward Katumba Wamala, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to completing the project, and preparations resumed.
The project’s first phase, involving laterite surfacing of the Kasindi–Beni section, is already 80% complete, according to Papy Minga, Provincial Director of the Roads Office in North Kivu.
Asphalting preparations are now underway, with stone crushers installed, an asphalt plant expected, and quarries opened in Kilya (Ruwenzori sector) and Rugetsi.
This road network is considered strategically vital:
Security: It facilitates joint SHUJAA military operations by the FARDC (DRC armed forces) and the UPDF (Ugandan army) against ADF rebels.
Trade: It serves as a major export corridor for agricultural products such as coffee and cocoa via the Kasindi border post.
Import access: It enables the inflow of essential goods, including fuel, to urban centers like Beni and Butembo.
Toll Revenues Reallocated for Local Development
As part of the project’s relaunch, Major General Somo Kakule Evariste, Military Governor of North Kivu, announced a reallocation of toll revenues.
Instead of being collected by private road maintenance firms, these funds will now be used to rehabilitate urban roads in Beni and Butembo, which had suffered long delays due to budget constraints. Local sources report that toll fees range from $2 to $20, depending on vehicle type.
Residents in the region have welcomed the progress with optimism, viewing it as a much-needed step toward improving mobility, economic opportunity, and security across the Grand Nord region.
