KAMPALA – The President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, has ordered the dismissal of six engineers from the Ministry of Works and Transport over their handling of major road infrastructure projects across the country.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The development was revealed by the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure at the Parliament on Monday.
Minister Byamukama told the committee, chaired by Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama (Mbarara City South MP), that he had received communication from the President directing the removal of the several engineers.
The Minister added that a number of other technical officers were under investigation over alleged irregularities that have delayed road projects, including the Busega–Mpigi Expressway, and increased costs.
“As I was leaving my office this morning, I saw a letter from the President sacking six engineers, including a few I am seeing on this front bench, on projects such as Busega-Mpigi, Mityana and Fort Portal roads,” Minister Byamukama stated.
Minister Byamukama said that several engineers are currently recording statements with the Inspectorate of Government, and former ministry officials are also under investigation following the President’s directive.
He confirmed that the Permanent Secretary has already been interdicted as part of the sweeping crackdown on implicated technical officers, signalling the President’s zero-tolerance stance on malfeasance within the Works Ministry.
“The people who are suspected were implicated. That is why you saw the Permanent Secretary (Bageya Waiswa) being interdicted. We have a number of engineers recording statements at the IGG, and even those who left government are being investigated following the President’s guidance,” the Minister said.
Minister Byamukama attributed the poor performance of road projects to corruption, noting that deliberate delays in approving designs and processing certificates have driven up costs.
The ministry is introducing comprehensive reforms, including stricter oversight mechanisms and enhanced accountability protocols, to prevent a repeat of the systemic challenges.
Minister Byamukama informed the committee that no future road contracts will be signed unless the government has substantially secured the required right of way, with the President advising that land acquisition should ideally reach 75 percent before construction begins.
The new measure aims to protect the government from unnecessary financial claims arising from delayed land acquisition, which has long been a major bottleneck in road project implementation.
The committee expressed serious concern over the Busega-Mpigi Expressway, whose completion has been repeatedly delayed by funding constraints, land acquisition challenges, and allegations of irregular design changes.
According to ministry documents, the 23.7-kilometre AfDB-funded project, constructed by CCECC, had achieved only 47.15 percent physical progress and 49.44 percent financial progress by June 2026.
The expressway, which started in November 2019, is now expected to be completed by December 2028, though the minister conceded that even this extended deadline may not be met.
The government has already invested Sh547.5 billion in the project and is processing additional financing after Parliament approved a new AfDB loan, while the contractor is still owed about Sh82.1 billion, affecting the pace of construction.
MPs also demanded answers on design changes that diverted sections of the road from dry land into wetland, and called for details on consultants involved and payments made during the design stages.
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