Kampala — THE re-development of Port Bell in Luzira, will cost $13m (about sh24.2b), the director of transport at the works ministry, said last week.

James Itazi, explained that the Government allocated $1.7m (about sh3.5b) in the 2009/10 fiscal year to kick-start the works.

The planned development includes the rehabilitation of the dry dock and its remodelling to enable it handle containerised and general cargo.

"However, the space for expansion is too small to handle multipurpose and containerised ships," Itazi disclosed in an interview.

The port is connected by a 9-km railway line to Kampala and is close to the Kampala Industrial and Business Park project in Namanve.

Itazi was, however, non-committal on commencement of construction works, including details of when the bidding and tendering process would be done.

The transport director said the dry dock would offer a direct connection with Dar-Es-Salaam via Mwanza, avoiding crossing the populated the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.

The development of the port will be a short-term intervention only to handle current traffic, Itazi added.

With the problems associated with over reliance on the Northern Corridor route, he said, it was imperative that Uganda urgently develops an alternative but competitive second route to the sea via the port of Dar-Es-Salaam.

Uganda paid dearly in 2007 following the disputed post-Kenya's elections where cargo destined to Kampala was routinely destroyed by the violent rioters.

Itazi said the development strategy would involve addressing physical infrastructure constraints like ports, railways, roads and the provision of adequate associated maritime facilities.

These include docking, containers and fuel storage facilities, handling equipment, ships and improvement of logistics by both Uganda and Tanzania.

"The development partners and the private sector are requested to provide the required funding to develop the route," he said.