The Ministry of Works and Transport has suspended two engineers over alleged financial mismanagement linked to the construction of the Busega-Mpigi Expressway as investigations into the multi-billion-shilling project gather pace.
The suspended officials are Edward Raymond Kiyaga and Dickens Ahimbisibwe. Their suspension follows a directive by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Justice Aisha Nalule Bitala, acting on instructions from President Yoweri Museveni.
According to the ministry, the two engineers have been ordered to immediately hand over all government property, records, files, equipment and any other official items in their possession.
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They have also been barred from accessing ministry premises or performing official duties without express authorisation. In addition, they have been instructed to remain available to support ongoing investigations and administrative processes.
The Inspectorate of Government welcomed the move, describing it as a step towards strengthening accountability in public service.
“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 investigation centres on the 23.7-kilometre Busega-Mpigi Expressway, a key transport project largely financed through external borrowing. The road is expected to reduce congestion along the Kampala-Masaka highway while improving trade and transport links between Kampala, south-western Uganda and neighbouring countries, including Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.
The project was initially awarded at an estimated cost of about Shs547 billion but has reportedly risen to more than Shs1.4 trillion following design changes, compensation disputes and implementation delays.
Although the government has committed significant funding to the project, construction progress has reportedly remained between 40 and 45 percent for a prolonged period, with completion now expected in 2027.
The suspensions come after President Museveni raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the project’s implementation. According to correspondence referenced by the Presidency, the road alignment was allegedly altered to bypass land that had already been compensated and redirected through areas requiring fresh compensation, including land reportedly associated with some of the officials under investigation.
The President also questioned reports that government had released funds equivalent to the full cost of implementing the project despite only part of the work being completed.
The allegations prompted the President to order investigations and the suspension of the two engineers, alongside other senior Ministry of Works officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The case is the latest in a series of investigations into major public infrastructure projects, many of which have faced scrutiny from Parliament, the Auditor General and anti-corruption agencies over procurement processes, project implementation and value for money.
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