KAMPALA
The Minister of State for Works, Hon. Musa Ecweru, has explained that the poor state of some roads in Uganda is linked to a Shs1.3 trillion debt inherited by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), which was owed to contractors for incomplete projects.
Ecweru made the comments during a debate in Parliament on Thursday, April 17, 2025, after Members of Parliament raised concerns about the deteriorating conditions of roads and bridges across the country. The debate focused on the sector’s budget priorities for the financial year 2025/2026, with the report coming from the Committee on Physical Infrastructure.
The minister noted that UNRA’s role was primarily focused on procurement of contractors, while the actual construction and repair work of roads and infrastructure was the responsibility of the contractors. He attributed delays in road projects to non-payment of contractors, which has led some to seek legal redress, including confiscation of equipment.
For example, Ecweru cited the Mityana-Mubende road project, which is funded by the government and contracted to Energo. He explained that Energo was owed about Shs60 billion, and suppliers of fuel and the bank were now taking legal action over unpaid debts.
However, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa expressed his disagreement with Ecweru’s characterization of UNRA’s role, arguing that it undermined the authority’s contributions over the years. “The statement about UNRA is regrettable. It must be on record that we were appropriating funds for work that UNRA did, including procurement and management. When UNRA was in charge, contractors took over the work. After UNRA’s restructuring, contractors abandoned their responsibilities,” Tayebwa said.
Tayebwa emphasized that the efforts of UNRA engineers should be acknowledged, noting that they had worked diligently alongside the Minister in the past, and it was wrong to now downplay their contributions.
Hon. Tonny Awany, the Chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, added that several road projects had been delayed due to changes in design, leading to significant cost overruns. For example, the Busega-Mpigi Expressway, initially contracted for Shs547 billion, saw its costs escalate to Shs1.3 trillion due to inadequate designs and revisions. Awany also pointed to the Kampala-Jinja Expressway, which has cost the government Shs6 billion in commitment fees.
Further concerns were raised by Members of Parliament, such as Hon. Paul Omara (Otuke County), who questioned why the 179 km Lira-Aloi-Kotido-Abim road, covering six districts, was removed from the National Development Plan despite meeting all construction requirements.
Hon. Francis Mwijukye (Buhweju County) also highlighted the delay in completing the road between Buhweju and Bushenyi, despite the government having secured a contractor and signed an agreement.
Hon. Eddie Kwizera (Bukimbiri County) advised the ministry to prioritize a limited number of roads according to the available budget. “We have 65 roads in the report, the same number as last year. Why not focus on the resources we have and avoid misleading the public?” he asked. Kwizera further inquired if roads were selected based on economic viability and international standards or if political considerations played a role.
The discussion reflects growing frustration among MPs over delays and inefficiencies in the road construction sector and the need for greater accountability in the management of road projects.