Land Acquisition Delays Hamper Road Projects, Parliament Told

Construction and upgrades of vital road networks across Uganda are being significantly impeded by difficulties in securing land for these projects and a lack of adequate funding. Barbara Mugambe, the Undersecretary for Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Works and Transport, informed the Committee on National Economy that these two issues require substantial financial resources.

To address this, the ministry is adopting a strategy to separate borrowing for civil works from that allocated for land acquisition. This approach is being implemented for projects like the 127km Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Mukungu road and 10km of Jinja City roads. Mugambe highlighted that while Parliament has been instrumental in approving loans for transport infrastructure, the ministry often lacks sufficient funds to cover all project components.

A report presented to the committee revealed that several key projects, including the Busega-Mpigi Expressway and the Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Puranga road, have been bogged down by delayed land acquisition. These delays stem from inadequate budget allocations and ownership disputes. For instance, on the Kampala-Jinja Expressway Project, only a fraction of the affected persons have been compensated, despite significant funds disbursed.

The Bukasa Port Development Project also faces challenges, with project-affected persons refusing to vacate the site until resettlement land, previously promised by the President, is provided. Committee members expressed frustration, questioning the ministry’s strategy of securing financing before critical preparatory stages like land acquisition are completed.

Concerns were also raised about abandoned road works and the durability of newly constructed roads, with questions about the effectiveness of weighbridges in managing heavy cargo traffic. Additionally, the ministry was urged to prioritize the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) policy to involve local contractors. Responding to these concerns, ministry officials noted that design reviews can also impact project timelines, and that externally funded projects often have procurement guidelines that may not favor local contractors. They assured the committee that efforts are underway to resolve issues with abandoned projects, including contractor payments.

Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/4575/delayed-land-acquisition-stalling-road-works