Archival Sense
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
- 302
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Minister of Works and Transport Fred Byamukama has blamed poor planning and weak contract management for the persistent delays on road projects across Uganda, saying some contracts were signed before essential requirements were in place.
Appearing before Parliament's Committee on Physical Infrastructure, Byamukama said his ministry is determined to improve both tarmac and murram roads to ensure Ugandans can safely transport their goods and access markets.
He acknowledged the public's frustration with delayed road projects but said many of the challenges existed before he took office less than a month ago.
"I inherited a team with existing instructions and ongoing projects. Not everyone in the ministry is corrupt, but some officers have gone astray," he said.
The minister criticised the practice of awarding road contracts before completing engineering designs or acquiring the required land for construction, saying such decisions have cost taxpayers billions of shillings.
"You find someone signing a contract when there are no designs or no right-of-way. The contractor then spends years on site and later charges government billions for idle equipment. This is another form of treason," Byamukama said.
He added that while Uganda cannot tarmac every road at once, the government has a responsibility to maintain murram roads and ensure ongoing projects are completed on time instead of dragging on for years.
The minister's remarks come as Parliament continues to scrutinise delayed road projects and contractors who have abandoned works across the country.
Appearing before Parliament's Committee on Physical Infrastructure, Byamukama said his ministry is determined to improve both tarmac and murram roads to ensure Ugandans can safely transport their goods and access markets.
He acknowledged the public's frustration with delayed road projects but said many of the challenges existed before he took office less than a month ago.
"I inherited a team with existing instructions and ongoing projects. Not everyone in the ministry is corrupt, but some officers have gone astray," he said.
The minister criticised the practice of awarding road contracts before completing engineering designs or acquiring the required land for construction, saying such decisions have cost taxpayers billions of shillings.
"You find someone signing a contract when there are no designs or no right-of-way. The contractor then spends years on site and later charges government billions for idle equipment. This is another form of treason," Byamukama said.
He added that while Uganda cannot tarmac every road at once, the government has a responsibility to maintain murram roads and ensure ongoing projects are completed on time instead of dragging on for years.
The minister's remarks come as Parliament continues to scrutinise delayed road projects and contractors who have abandoned works across the country.
