By Uganda’s Parliament has been thrown into uproar after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) uncovered jaw-dropping levels of waste in government-funded road projects, with taxpayers footing multi-billion bills for short stretches of tarmac and bloated supervision costs.
Presenting findings from the Auditor General’s report for FY 2023/24, PAC chairperson Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala County) revealed massive discrepancies in road construction costs across cities — with some projects priced at three times above the national average.
“These roads measure almost the same in length, yet the costs vary abnormally. Such discrepancies are unjustifiable and point to inflated contracts and loss of public funds,” Kivumbi told a stunned plenary chaired by Speaker Anita Among.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
- Arua City: 1.37 km = Shs 13.4 billion
- Fort Portal City: 2.68 km = Shs 21.4 billion
- Mbarara City: 1 km = Shs 4.9 billion
According to the Ministry of Works and Transport, the average cost of upgrading a paved road should be Shs 3.1 billion per km. By that standard, Arua’s project cost triple the normal rate.
“The Fort Portal project alone could have financed nearly seven kilometres of road at average cost, but only 2.6 km was delivered,” Kivumbi stressed.
Supervision Costs Under Fire
PAC also zeroed in on skyrocketing supervision fees — some as high as 20% of project budgets.
- Arua: Shs 3 billion blown on supervising just 1.37 km
- Mubende: Shs 2.5 billion to oversee 2.86 km
“This is an obnoxious trend,” the report reads, accusing contractors and government officials of colluding to inflate costs.
Loans Taken, Money Wasted
Even more scandalous, Uganda is borrowing billions but barely using the funds.
- Out of Shs 7.9 trillion in loans and Shs 3.9 trillion in grants secured, only 48.2% of loans and 25.6% of grants were absorbed
- Some projects, like the Mbarara–Masaka Transmission Line, had a disbursement rate of just 0.3% — despite the deadline already passing.
Speaker Among Demands Action
Speaker Anita Among fumed at the revelations, noting Uganda is paying interest on idle loans.
“We are paying for loans we are not using. This must stop. Parliament will dedicate a full day to debate this matter,” she declared.
Defence Minister Jacob Oboth backed the call, urging stronger policies on loan management and value-for-money safeguards.
The Bigger Picture
PAC’s report warns that unless corruption, poor planning, and weak oversight are urgently tackled, Uganda will sink deeper into debt while ordinary citizens remain without decent roads, schools, or hospitals.
“Borrowed money is being wasted to enrich a few individuals, while Ugandans are deprived of essential services,” the committee concluded.
