UNRA — Uganda's Road Construction Authority
The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) is responsible for maintaining, developing, and managing Uganda's national road network of over 22,000 kilometres. UNRA is one of the largest employers of road construction contractors in Uganda, awarding billions of Uganda shillings in road construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance contracts every financial year.
For any serious road construction contractor in Uganda, winning UNRA contracts is the pathway to scale. But competition is intense and the qualification requirements are rigorous. This guide explains exactly what you need to qualify and how to position your company for success.
2025/26 Budget allocation: Uganda's government allocated 14.6% of the national budget to transport and infrastructure — making it one of the largest spending categories and the biggest opportunity for road construction contractors.
UNRA Contractor Categories
| Category | Works Value | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Category A (International) | Above UGX 10 billion | International experience, JV acceptable, large equipment fleet |
| Category B (National Large) | UGX 3B — 10B | 5+ years Uganda experience, audited accounts, significant equipment |
| Category C (National Medium) | UGX 500M — 3B | 3+ years experience, equipment, bonding capacity |
| Category D (National Small) | UGX 50M — 500M | Local contractors, community roads, maintenance works |
UNRA Contractor Registration Requirements
To register as a UNRA contractor you must provide:
- Company registration: Certificate of incorporation from URSB
- Tax compliance: Valid TIN and URA tax clearance certificate — must be up to date
- PPDA registration: Active registration on PPDA providers register
- Audited accounts: 3 years of audited financial statements from a registered auditor
- Equipment schedule: List of owned or available plant and equipment with values
- Key personnel CVs: Qualified engineers (UIPE registered) and project managers
- Performance record: Completion certificates from previous road works
- Banking facilities: Letter from bank confirming bonding capacity
UNRA Active Road Package Types 2026
- Tarmacking packages: Upgrading murram roads to bitumen standard — typical contract value UGX 5B–50B
- Periodic maintenance: Resealing, pothole patching, drainage on existing tarmac roads
- Routine maintenance: Grading, vegetation control, culvert cleaning on murram roads
- Bridge construction: New bridges and culvert installations on national roads
- Albertine road packages: Access roads and heavy-duty infrastructure for oil sector
- Urban road packages: Joint UNRA/KCCA urban road upgrades in Kampala and regional towns
How to Win UNRA Contracts — Practical Tips
- Price competitively but realistically: Underbidding to win and then claiming variations is a known strategy but creates disputes and reputational damage
- Submit complete bids: Incomplete submissions are disqualified — checklist every document before submission
- Demonstrate local content: UNRA gives preference to contractors using local labour, materials, and sub-contractors
- Show financial capacity: Your audited accounts must demonstrate you can finance the contract — UNRA advances are typically 20–25% of contract value
- Build your track record: Start with smaller Category D contracts and build your completion certificate portfolio before targeting larger packages
- Joint ventures: Partnering with larger established contractors is a legitimate route to qualify for bigger packages
Basket Advisory — Construction Project Management Support
We provide project management oversight, payroll outsourcing for site workers, and PPDA/UNRA compliance advisory for road construction contractors across Uganda.
Talk to Our Construction Team →