Land Acquisition Delays Hamper Road Projects, Ministry Cites Funding Gaps

Numerous road projects across Uganda are facing considerable delays due to difficulties in acquiring land and insufficient counterpart funding. Barbara Mugambe, Undersecretary for Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Works and Transport, highlighted these challenges during an interface with the Committee on National Economy.

Mugambe explained that both land acquisition and civil works require substantial financial resources. To address this, the ministry is adopting a strategy of securing separate loans for civil works and land acquisition, particularly for projects like the 127km Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Mukungu road and 10km of Jinja City roads. This approach aims to alleviate shortages specifically related to land compensation.

The ministry’s report to the committee detailed that projects such as the Busega-Mpigi Expressway and the Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Puranga road have been bogged down by delayed land acquisition. This delay is attributed to inadequate budget allocations and ongoing ownership disputes.

Similarly, the Kampala-Jinja Expressway Project has seen only a fraction of the 16,000 project-affected persons compensated. The Bukasa Port Development Project is also facing hurdles, with beneficiaries awaiting resettlement land promised by the President.

Committee members expressed frustration with the continuous project delays, questioning the ministry’s strategy of securing financing before critical preparatory stages, like land acquisition, are complete. Concerns were also raised about abandoned road works and the longevity of newly constructed roads, with specific attention to the effectiveness of weighbridges in managing heavy cargo.

Discussions also touched upon the promotion of local content, with calls to involve Ugandan contractors more in infrastructure projects. The ministry noted that externally funded projects often adhere to international procurement guidelines that may not favour local contractors, unlike government-funded initiatives.

In response to the issue of abandoned projects, officials clarified that these often stem from past organizational transitions and that supplementary funding has been secured to resume stalled works, with contractor payments now resolved.

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