A storm is brewing in Uganda’s infrastructure sector after the Minister of Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, disclosed that the government could have lost up to Shs700 billion through what he described as manipulation by engineers involved in road project planning and implementation.
The explosive revelation has triggered fresh investigations by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), with anti-corruption investigators now scrutinizing the procurement, design and costing of one of the country’s most expensive road projects.
Speaking while addressing concerns over the ballooning cost of the road project, Byamukama blamed a network of engineers whom he accused of deliberately inflating bills of quantities, altering designs and creating unnecessary cost variations that ultimately burden taxpayers.
“We discovered that engineers manipulated the designs and cost estimates. Government has been losing huge amounts of money because of these practices. We estimate that close to Shs700 billion was lost through inflated engineering costs,” Byamukama said.
The minister’s remarks have reignited public anger over Uganda’s escalating infrastructure costs, especially after it emerged that a 27-kilometre road stretch whose original estimate stood at approximately Shs600 billion is now expected to consume almost Shs2 trillion.
The figures have left many Ugandans questioning how a relatively short road could nearly quadruple in cost before completion.Government insiders say the discovery was made during an extensive review of engineering designs and procurement documents after officials noticed unexplained increases in project costs.
According to officials familiar with the review, investigators found repeated alterations in technical drawings, changes in pavement specifications and multiple contract variations that significantly increased the overall project value.
The Works ministry reportedly became suspicious after comparing the project’s cost with similar highway projects in neighbouring countries, where roads of comparable standards were completed at substantially lower prices.
Byamukama said government has now instituted tighter supervision of engineering designs before contracts are approved.”We cannot continue losing taxpayers’ money because of a few dishonest individuals. Every engineering design must now undergo strict scrutiny before implementation,” he warned.
The allegations have attracted the attention of the Inspector General of Government, whose office has reportedly opened investigations into possible abuse of office, causing financial loss and procurement irregularities.
Sources familiar with the investigations say detectives are examining documents from the Uganda National Roads Authority’s successor departments, consultancy firms and engineering companies that participated in the project.Investigators are expected to determine whether public officials colluded with private consultants to inflate costs and whether criminal charges should follow.
Officials say several engineers, procurement officers and project consultants could be summoned to record statements as investigators piece together the paper trail.Anti-corruption campaigners have welcomed the investigations but insist that accountability should not stop with technical officers.
Civil society organizations argue that engineers alone cannot approve billion-shilling payments without the involvement of accounting officers, procurement committees and political supervisors.Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, said the allegations point to systemic corruption that extends beyond engineers.
“If indeed Shs700 billion was lost, then this was not the work of one category of professionals. Such payments require approvals across several government offices. The investigations must establish the entire chain of responsibility,” she said.
The Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda also called for full transparency, saying Ugandans deserve to know who benefited from the inflated contracts.”The public has paid heavily for poor governance. Every official involved, regardless of rank, should be investigated and prosecuted if evidence supports criminal charges,” the coalition said.
Transparency advocates further urged government to publish all engineering designs, contract variations and payment schedules relating to the disputed project.They argue that public disclosure would allow independent experts to determine whether the additional costs were technically justified or simply disguised corruption.
Economists say inflated infrastructure contracts have devastating consequences for Uganda’s development.
Every unnecessary billion spent on a single road project means fewer hospitals, schools, water systems and rural roads can be financed elsewhere.Infrastructure specialists note that road construction naturally becomes more expensive because of compensation, terrain challenges, imported materials and exchange-rate fluctuations.
However, they say such factors alone cannot explain dramatic increases running into hundreds of billions of shillings without comprehensive technical justification.The latest revelations also revive long-standing concerns over contract variations, a practice that has repeatedly been cited by auditors as one of the biggest drivers of cost overruns in government projects.
Previous reports by the Auditor General have highlighted weaknesses in project planning, inadequate feasibility studies and frequent design changes that often lead to significant increases in contract values after work has already commenced.
Critics argue that some contractors deliberately submit low bids during procurement only to recover profits later through numerous variations approved during implementation.Others blame weak supervision, political interference and inadequate sanctions against officials responsible for poor project management.
For ordinary Ugandans, however, the figures are staggering.Social media platforms were flooded with criticism after Byamukama’s remarks, with many questioning how billions of shillings could disappear while many roads across the country remain in poor condition.
Some users argued that engineers should not shoulder all the blame, insisting that such large financial decisions involve multiple government agencies and approval structures.Others called for lifestyle audits of public officials involved in major infrastructure projects, saying unexplained wealth among some officers raises serious questions about corruption.
The controversy is likely to increase pressure on anti-corruption agencies to demonstrate tangible results.For years, Uganda has announced investigations into high-profile infrastructure projects, yet only a handful have resulted in successful prosecutions or recovery of stolen public funds.
As the IGG intensifies investigations, attention will focus on whether the probe uncovers a wider network involving consultants, contractors, procurement officials and public servants responsible for approving payments.
Minister Byamukama has vowed that government will not tolerate manipulation of engineering processes and promised reforms aimed at strengthening oversight of public infrastructure projects.”We want value for money. Every shilling must work for Ugandans. Those who manipulated government projects will be held accountable,” the minister said.
Whether the ongoing investigations will finally expose those responsible for the alleged Shs700 billion engineering bonanza remains to be seen. But the case has once again highlighted the enormous financial risks posed by weak oversight in public infrastructure projects and the urgent need for stronger accountability in the management of taxpayers’ money.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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