”’Tell Me How You Jumped From Shs600bn To Shs1.3 Trillion”-Museveni Sacks Top Gov’t Officials As Busega Expressway Scandal Erupts

By Swift Reporter

President Yoweri Museveni has ordered a comprehensive investigation into alleged corruption and financial mismanagement in the construction of the Busega–Mpigi Expressway after the project’s cost reportedly more than doubled from Shs600 billion to Shs1.3 trillion.

In a directive dated June 26 and addressed to Inspector General of Government (IGG) Lady Justice Aisha Naluzze Batoro, the President ordered an immediate inquiry into what he described as serious irregularities in the implementation of one of Uganda’s flagship road infrastructure projects.

As part of the directive, Museveni suspended three senior engineers in the Ministry of Works and Transport—Edwin Raymond Kiyaga, Dickens Ahimbisibwe and Patrick Muleme—to allow investigations to proceed without interference. He also directed Permanent Secretary Bageya Waiswa to step aside during the investigations, appointing Under Secretary Barbara Namugambe as Acting Permanent Secretary.

The President tasked the Inspectorate of Government to lead the investigations with support from State House Auditor John Tumwiine.

According to the directive, the government borrowed Shs600 billion from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance the construction of the 23.7-kilometre Busega–Mpigi Expressway and more than 20 kilometres of access roads.

However, Museveni questioned how the entire contract sum had reportedly been paid despite only about 40 percent of the work having been completed.

“The Government borrowed Shs600 billion from ADB to do the Expressway 100%. As of now only 40% of the work has been done but all the money was paid. What happened?” the President wrote.

Museveni further alleged that engineers involved in the project altered the original road alignment after compensation had already been paid to affected landowners.

According to the directive, the revised route allegedly passed through land in which some project officials had personal interests, triggering a fresh round of compensation claims and significantly increasing the overall cost of the project.

“The corrupt engineers altered the route of the road and avoided the route that was already compensated for and charted a new route going through their own lands that needed fresh compensation. A road that was supposed to cost Shs600 billion is now being put at Shs1.3 trillion. These thieves must be destroyed,” the President said.

If confirmed, the allegations would rank among the largest suspected financial scandals involving a publicly funded road project in Uganda in recent years.

The directive marks a significant shift in the government’s handling of the project. In May, Deputy Inspector General of Government Anna Twinomugisha Muhairwe inspected the expressway following public concerns over delays, allegations that the contractor had abandoned the site and questions about value for money.

At the time, the Inspectorate said it was largely satisfied with explanations provided by officials from the Ministry of Works, although concerns remained over illegal developments within the road reserve and possible irregularities in compensation.

The Ministry of Works has maintained that the increase in the project’s cost resulted from additional financing rather than financial impropriety. Officials say construction was delayed by funding constraints, prompting the African Development Bank to approve an additional €217 million (about Shs909 billion) in December 2025 to facilitate completion of the project, bringing total financing to approximately Shs1.3 trillion.

The Busega–Mpigi Expressway is a key component of Uganda’s Northern Corridor transport network and is expected to ease congestion along the Kampala–Masaka Highway, reduce travel time to western Uganda and improve regional trade with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project includes a four-lane expressway, access roads, interchanges and tolling infrastructure.

The investigation comes as Uganda steps up efforts to strengthen accountability in public infrastructure projects while seeking additional financing for major transport investments, including the Standard Gauge Railway.

The African Development Bank remains one of Uganda’s largest development partners, with 19 active public sector operations worth about $2.2 billion as of April 2026, spanning transport, energy and other strategic infrastructure projects.