By Aggrey Baba
Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs’ Ministry has kick-started a new phase in the Greater Kampala urban expansion agenda, with a fresh call for consultancy services to supervise the construction of three major markets in the districts of Wakiso and Mpigi.
Funded by the World Bank and French Development Agency (AFD), the development is part of the wider Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program (GKMA-UDP), which is aiming to ease congestion, boost local trade, and transform urban livelihoods beyond Kampala’s central business centre.
The procurement notice, issued by the Office of the President and administered through Mpigi District Local Government, outlines the need for expert supervision of the construction of Kawuku Market, Wakiso Central Market, and Mpigi Central Market, projects expected to open up formal trade zones in the fast-urbanizing areas of Greater Kampala.
Under the proposed works, Kawuku Market and Wakiso Central Market will both be constructed within Wakiso District, while Mpigi District will receive its own modern market facility in Mpigi Town Council. All three lots are up for consultancy bidding, with proposals expected to close by 1st August 2025.
Officials say the development of these markets is a deliberate effort to “decentralize the economic heartbeat” of the capital and reduce overreliance on inner-city markets such as Nakasero, Owino, and Kalerwe.
While the program is coordinated by the Ministry for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Mpigi District Local Government has taken the lead as the procuring entity, working hand-in-hand with Wakiso District Local Government.
Interested consulting firms can access the bidding documents from Mpigi District’s Procurement and Disposal Unit, which will also host a pre-proposal meeting on 7th July 2025 at 12:00 noon.
This marks another chapter in efforts to position Wakiso and Mpigi as key players in Uganda’s urbanization journey, districts which have both have seen explosive population growth and increasing demand for structured urban services, in the past years.
Wakiso alone is estimated to have more than 2 million residents, many of whom are economically tied to Kampala but live and operate businesses in peri-urban centres like Kawuku, Kyengera, Nansana, and Wakiso Town.
The new markets are expected to cater to this fast-growing population and formalize many of the roadside and informal markets that currently lack adequate facilities or government oversight.
With millions of billions at stake, the competition for consultancy services is expected to be tight. The selected firms will not only be required to oversee construction works but also ensure quality, timeliness, and compliance with environmental and social safeguards as required under World Bank and AFD guidelines.
Government insiders say that the consultancy selection is a critical step, as any delays or mismanagement could derail the timeline for actual construction. The GKMA-UDP is seen as one of the flagship programs under Uganda’s Vision 2040, which targets inclusive urban growth and job creation through modern infrastructure. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
