I want to commend the President of Uganda, our Jajja Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for the sacrifices he and his comrades in uniform made over many years to restore peace in Uganda. I salute those brothers and sisters who are no longer with us, as well as those who are still alive, for the contribution they made toward bringing peace to our country.
I also want to pay special tribute to President Museveni for going the extra mile after liberating Uganda to convince investors from different parts of the world to come and invest in our country. Indeed, Uganda today is home to many multinational companies and international investors.
We should be proud that, because of the peace and stability we have enjoyed, many financial institutions have been comfortable supporting the Ugandan government in financing various development projects, particularly infrastructure.
However, as a concerned citizen, I am increasingly worried about the way the fight against corruption is being handled in some instances. While the fight against corruption is necessary and should be supported by everyone, public statements made without sufficient evidence can have unintended consequences, particularly for foreign investors and development partners.
I am referring specifically to the ongoing controversy within the Ministry of Works and Transport, where Minister of Works, Fred Byamukama, has made several strong public statements concerning alleged corruption and mismanagement in infrastructure projects.
I have closely followed some of the minister’s statements, including claims that some engineers had allegedly planned to steal about Shs150 billion. Such serious allegations require credible evidence and should ideally be handled through the appropriate investigative and judicial institutions.
My concern is that repeated public accusations, particularly when they are not accompanied by publicly presented evidence, could damage Uganda’s image and make development partners more cautious about committing additional funds to major infrastructure projects.
The Busega–Mpigi Expressway
The Busega–Mpigi Expressway is one project where I believe we need to exercise particular caution.
The minister has publicly raised concerns about the project and has criticized some of the people involved, including Chinese nationals working on the project and Ugandan engineers. While concerns about the management and cost of public projects should certainly be investigated, public criticism must be handled carefully because such projects involve international contractors, lenders and development partners.
There are also questions surrounding the project’s cost and the processes through which it was approved.
According to information and documents available to us, Isaac Wani, who is currently the Commissioner of National Roads in the Ministry of Works and Transport, previously served as Director of Road Designs at the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). It is alleged that he was also chairman of the contracts committee that approved the Busega–Mpigi Expressway contract.
Questions have subsequently been raised about the initial cost of the project, which was reportedly placed at approximately Shs1.8 trillion.
Following these concerns, the Ministry of Works reportedly established a committee to review and negotiate the cost of the project. The committee is said to have negotiated the cost down to approximately Shs1.108 trillion.
However, according to documents in our possession, after the ministry team had completed its negotiations, Mr Wani is alleged to have conducted further research and added approximately Shs300 billion to the cost, bringing the figure to about Shs1.3 trillion.
These claims should be independently investigated and verified by the relevant authorities. If there were irregularities, those responsible should be held accountable. If there were legitimate reasons for the changes in the project cost, the public also deserves to understand those reasons.
What concerns me most is that some of the officials who are being mentioned in connection with these controversies remain in positions of responsibility. This raises questions that deserve clear and transparent answers.
What Do We Stand to Lose?
My greatest concern is not about protecting anyone accused of wrongdoing. Uganda must fight corruption, and I fully support efforts to ensure that public resources are protected.
My concern is about the way these matters are communicated.
If development partners begin to believe that Uganda’s major infrastructure projects are surrounded by endless accusations, disagreements and uncertainty, they may become reluctant to provide additional financing.
I am particularly concerned about reports that the African Development Bank (AfDB) may delay or reconsider additional funding required to complete the Busega–Mpigi Expressway.
If this happens, ordinary Ugandans could ultimately bear the consequences through delayed infrastructure development, higher costs and lost economic opportunities.
This is why I believe that the fight against corruption should be conducted with professionalism, evidence and due process. Investigations should be allowed to establish the facts, while public officials should avoid making statements that could unnecessarily damage the reputation of the country or discourage development partners.
Let All Sides Be Heard
I therefore humbly appeal to our Jajja, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, to consider meeting with officials who have been dismissed or removed from the Ministry of Works and Transport and allow them to present their side of the story.
Every dispute has more than one side. Hearing all the parties involved would give the President a broader picture and help ensure that the best decision is made in the interests of Uganda.
The fight against corruption must continue, but it must also be conducted in a way that protects Uganda’s reputation, investor confidence and access to development financing.
Uganda needs infrastructure. Uganda needs investors. Uganda needs development partners. And, above all, Uganda needs transparency and accountability.
We should therefore be careful that, in our legitimate fight against corruption, we do not inadvertently scare away the very partners whose financial support we need to build our roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
Long live our Jajja, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Long live the Badman General, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Steven Ariong
Senior Veteran Journalist
