Corruption Allegations Skyrocket Mpigi Expressway Cost to Shs 2 Trillion

The ambitious Busega–Mpigi Expressway project, originally budgeted at Shs 600 billion, is now projected to cost approximately Shs 2 trillion upon completion. Minister of Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, has pointed to a confluence of issues including project delays, design changes, funding interruptions, and alleged corruption within his ministry.

The project’s cost has already climbed to Shs 1.3 trillion, with an additional Shs 700 billion needed to finalize the works. Initially, the route was rerouted through swampy areas to mitigate compensation costs. However, Byamukama alleges this rerouting was exploited by ministry officials and private individuals who had acquired land in these areas, aiming to profit from compensation payouts.

These serious allegations have led to disciplinary actions, with engineers Dickens Ahimbisibwe and Edwin Raymond Kiyaga suspended, and Permanent Secretary Bageya Waiswa sent on forced leave. The contractor has since resumed work under revised terms, with the project now slated for completion by the end of 2028, delayed from its initial 2026 target.

Factors contributing to the delays include land acquisition challenges, design revisions, funding shortfalls, and procurement issues. The revised design incorporates additional interchanges, toll plazas, service lanes, and bridges, extending the expressway to 27.3 kilometers. The African Development Bank remains the primary financier, with the project expected to recoup some costs through tolls. The total financing now stands at approximately Shs 1.795 trillion, a considerable jump from the initial Shs 745 billion.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/how-ministry-corruption-bloated-mpigi-expressway-cost-to-shs-2-trillion