The project, worth Shs17 billion, was awarded to Excel Construction Company Limited by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities of the Government of Uganda.
The pier will feature a glass bridge connecting the riverbanks to the exact point where the River Nile originates and stretches all the way to Egypt. It will include two viewing decks, water features, a surveillance room, and a rescue room.
Previously, tourists spent less than an hour at the source, but the construction of new infrastructure is expected to attract and retain more visitors, boosting revenue from accommodations, restaurants, an art village, and boat cruise services, according to Jinja City Mayor Alton Peter Kasolo.
“Most visitors to the Source of the Nile are first-time guests who never return, largely due to underdevelopment,” noted the mayor. He added that the Kimaka Airstrip has been incorporated into the Source of the Nile master development plan, aiming to attract foreign tourists from around the world.
The River Nile pier is part of the 20-year-long Source of the Nile tourism site development plan, which involves modern infrastructure development along a 10 km stretch of the Nile’s source, covering both Jinja City and Njeru Municipality. A consultant company was contracted to survey the entire 10 km area.
Ms. Doreen Katusiime, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, disclosed that the pier will include thermal restaurants, a docking area capable of accommodating nearly 25 modern boats, art villages, and a museum with information about the Source of the Nile and the city. This will enhance the tourist experience, added Mr. Rajab Kitto, Jinja City’s Public Relations Officer.
Mr. Rajab also mentioned that the project will include three administration offices, 22 craft shops for merchants who meet market standards, an archive, and storage facilities, among other features.
Construction was initially set to begin on October 1, 2023, and conclude on October 1, 2024. However, according to quantity surveyor Stephen Male, “it formally began on January 18, 2024, when a start letter was issued.”
Believed to be the source of the Nile, Jinja City attracts many tourists due to its numerous wonders, including being the origin of the world’s longest river, which spans 4,132 miles (6,650 km) and flows northward through Africa to the Mediterranean Sea.
The name “Nile” is derived from the Latin word Nilus, which is believed to come from the Semitic word Nahal, meaning “valley.” However, the ancient Egyptians called the river Ar/Aur, meaning “black,” referring to the dark color of the sediments carried by the river, in stark contrast to the pale sands of the Egyptian desert.
