MUBENDE .The Minister of Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, has threatened that government will terminate contract for the Shs395 billion Mityana–Mubende Highway project accusing contractor over corruption, inflated compensation claims.
The minister claims it is these ills that have led to delays to complete project, gave the Serbian contractor, EnergoProjekt eight months to complete the project.
Speaking during an inspection of the project on June 12, Mr Byamukama said the contractor had failed to meet the original completion deadline despite receiving substantial government payments and multiple deadline extensions.
“The contractor was supposed to deliver the work by 2024. He did not deliver, rather asked for three more years, up to 2027, which we allowed. But I was surprised to see another request to extend to 2028, which we can’t allow,” he said.
The 86-kilometre Mityana–Mubende Highway, including 14 kilometres of Mityana town roads, links the central part of the country to the mid-western region. Construction commenced in early 2021 and was initially scheduled for completion in 2024.
Minister of Works and Transport Fred Byamukama during an inspection of the Mityana–Mubende Road project with contractors and engineers on June 12, 2026. PHOTO/IBRAHIM KAVUMA
Mr Byamukama said that despite limited progress on the ground, the government had already paid nearly half of the contract sum.
“This contract was supposed to be for Shs395 billion. Out of that, Shs195 billion has already been paid. But when you look at the work done, a lot of money is going into claims,” he observed.
The minister raised concern over what he described as questionable claims submitted by contractors, which he said were worsening cost escalation and slowing down implementation.
“These are claims for delays, negotiation time and being given a design they can’t implement. Such issues should not be the basis for more money,” he said.
He further alleged that corruption involving government officials and engineers was contributing to the project’s slow progress.
“We have discovered that when these people are getting contracts, some Ugandans take 6 percent from the contract value at award, and 3 percent from every payment certificate. That is corruption. We have evidence, and we are going to take it to the anti-corruption agencies,” he remarked on Friday.
He warned that those implicated would face arrest and prosecution.
“Those people should be arrested. We have seen big people in government being arrested for corruption. Government projects cannot suffer at the expense of a few individuals,” he added.
Mr Byamukama added: “We have two of our staff engineers who have been working with this contractor. With immediate effect, they are withdrawn pending further investigation over alleged involvement in irregular dealings with the contractors.”
He accused some contractors of influencing the selection of supervising engineers, which he said had compromised accountability in public infrastructure projects.
“Even engineers are being selected by contractors. That is how deep the problem has gone. I want to see those big people hiding behind the President’s name to steal government money. I have nothing to lose,” he said.
He further revealed that the government was also investigating other road projects where similar claims had been made, including the Kampala–Jinja road maintenance contract, where he said a Shs54 billion claim had been submitted despite little visible work.
“We gave them a project worth Shs82 billion, but so far about Shs30 billion has been paid. Yet there is a claim of Shs54 billion for doing nothing. We cannot proceed like this,” he said.
The minister warned that the government would not hesitate to blacklist non-performing contractors.
“If they fail to complete this project in eight months, we shall terminate the contract and get another contractor. We don’t care whether it is expensive or not, as long as the road is completed,” he said.
Byamukama said the deteriorating condition of the road had increased transport costs, delayed travel time, and caused accidents due to deep potholes.
“From Kalamba to Mubende, taxis are taking longer, transport fares are going up, and people are losing tyres and knocking one another. We must fix this on the entire stretch. The government has heavily put a lot of taxpayer’s money,” he said.
The contractor did not immediately comment on the matter.
Mr Drake Ssembuusi, the district chairperson of Kassanda District, said communities along the corridor continue to suffer social and economic consequences.
He said excessive dust from the unfinished road has affected businesses, caused health concerns and complicated access to essential services, particularly for expectant mothers.
“Our road is very dusty and people are suffering. Businesses have been affected, pregnant women face serious challenges using this road and we have even lost a woman after she fell because of its condition. We need this road completed as soon as possible,” he said.
The construction roadmap includes widening the road, stabilising the pavements, constructing wider shoulders, improving drainage channels and culverts, and bringing the surface up to modern standards.