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The Ministry of Works and Transport has suspended two engineers, Edward Raymond Kiyaga and Dickens Ahimbisibwe, over alleged financial mismanagement in the construction of the Busega-Mpigi Expressway.
The suspensions follow a directive from the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Justice Aisha Nalule Bitala, acting on instructions from President Yoweri Museveni.
The two officials have been directed to immediately hand over all government property, records, files, equipment and any other official items in their possession.
They have also been barred from accessing ministry premises or carrying out official duties without express authorisation and have been instructed to remain available to assist with ongoing investigations and administrative processes. The Inspectorate of Government welcomed the decision.
“This action demonstrates adherence to the principles of accountability and good governance,” the Inspectorate said in a statement, adding that the intervention was necessary to restore public confidence in the management of major infrastructure projects.
The 23.7-kilometre Busega-Mpigi Expressway, financed largely through external borrowing, is intended to ease chronic traffic congestion along the Kampala-Masaka highway and improve trade and transport links between Kampala, south-western Uganda and neighbouring countries, including Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.
Initially awarded at an estimated cost of about Shs 547 billion, the project’s budget has reportedly risen substantially to over Shs 1.4 trillion due to design changes, land compensation disputes and implementation delays.
Despite significant government expenditure, physical progress has remained slow, reportedly hovering between 40 and 45 per cent for an extended period, with completion now expected in 2027.
President Museveni recently raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the project, accusing some officials of manipulating the road alignment.
According to correspondence cited by the Presidency, the route was allegedly altered to avoid land that had already been compensated and redirected through areas requiring fresh compensation, including land reportedly linked to some of the officials involved.
The President also questioned why government had reportedly released funds equivalent to full project implementation while only part of the work had been completed.
The allegations prompted his directive for investigations and the suspension of the two engineers, as well as other senior officials in the Ministry of Works, including the Permanent Secretary.
The latest development adds to a series of controversies surrounding major public infrastructure projects, many of which have attracted scrutiny from Parliament, the Auditor General and anti-corruption agencies over procurement practices, project implementation and value for money.
Related
, https://observer.ug/news/engineers-ahimbisibwe-kiyaga-suspended-over-mpigi-expressway-funds-embezzlement/
