Fred Byamukama
President Yoweri Museveni has directed that up to 6 officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport be dismissed over alleged corruption, financial mismanagement and abuse of office linked to major infrastructure projects, in a move that signals a fresh crackdown on graft in Uganda’s road sector.
The dismissals stem from a massive corruption and financial loss scandal on major infrastructure, notably the manipulation of alignments and fraudulent compensation claims on the Busega–Mpigi Expressway
The officials, most of them engineers and senior technocrats, are accused of causing severe financial losses to the government through the manipulation of road alignments, misappropriation of project funds and deliberate delays that have significantly increased the cost of critical infrastructure projects, including the troubled Busega–Mpigi Expressway.
MP’s unimpressed
The latest developments emerged on Monday, July 20, 2026, when Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure. Byamukama confirmed that the President had recommended disciplinary action against several ministry officials and revealed that a number of those implicated were already recording statements with the Inspectorate of Government (IGG).
However, the minister declined to disclose the identities of the officials earmarked for dismissal, saying investigations were still ongoing.
The directive represents one of the strongest interventions by President Museveni against alleged corruption within the Ministry of Works and Transport in recent years.
At the centre of the investigations is the 23.7-kilometre Busega–Mpigi Expressway, a strategic highway designed to ease chronic traffic congestion along the Kampala-Masaka road while improving trade and transport links between Kampala and southwestern Uganda, as well as neighbouring Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.
Huge cost overruns
The expressway was initially contracted at approximately Shs547 billion, largely financed through borrowed funds. However, the project has become synonymous with cost overruns, delayed implementation and allegations of corruption.
Reports indicate that the overall cost has more than doubled following repeated design changes, land compensation disputes and prolonged implementation delays. Despite government releasing funds intended to facilitate full completion of the road, construction progress has remained stuck at between 40 and 45 percent for an extended period, forcing completion timelines to be pushed to 2027.
According to findings presented to the President, some engineers and ministry officials allegedly manipulated the road alignment for personal gain.
Instead of following the original route, which passed through land whose owners had already been compensated by government, the officials allegedly diverted the road through new areas requiring fresh compensation.
Investigators believe the rerouting enabled fresh compensation claims, with some of the affected land reportedly linked to the officials or their associates.
Financial burden on taxpayers
The alleged scheme not only increased the financial burden on taxpayers but also delayed project implementation, forcing government to spend additional billions of shillings on compensation that could have been avoided.
The President is also said to have questioned how government had released sufficient funding for complete implementation while only a fraction of the physical works had been accomplished.
His concerns prompted a broader investigation that has now widened beyond the two initially suspended engineers.
Earlier this month, Engineers Edward Raymond Kiyaga and Dickens Ahimbisibwe were suspended over allegations of embezzling funds connected to the Busega–Mpigi Expressway.
Their suspension followed a directive issued by Inspector General of Government Lady Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala, acting on instructions from President Museveni.
The two officials were instructed to immediately hand over all government property, official records, files and equipment under their custody.
They were further barred from accessing Ministry of Works premises or carrying out any official duties without express authorisation. They were also directed to remain available at all times to support ongoing investigations and any administrative processes arising from the probe.
IGG hails the move
The Inspectorate of Government welcomed the ministry’s decision to suspend the officials, describing it as an important demonstration of accountability and good governance.
In a statement issued following the suspensions, the Inspectorate noted that swift action was necessary to restore public confidence in government infrastructure projects, many of which involve enormous public investments and foreign loans.
The investigations are expected to extend beyond the Busega–Mpigi Expressway as authorities examine whether similar practices occurred on other major road projects.
The Works ministry has previously faced criticism over procurement irregularities, delayed implementation of road contracts and weaknesses in project supervision, issues repeatedly highlighted by Parliament and successive Auditor General’s reports.
Museveni’s latest directive is therefore expected to trigger wider administrative and criminal proceedings against officials found culpable.
