Kampala, Uganda | URN | The Inspectorate of Government is set to embark on a comprehensive value-for-money audit of the Busega-Mpigi Expressway as part of a wider multi-agency investigation into suspected corruption and mismanagement that has plagued the flagship infrastructure project. Inspector General of Government Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala said investigators spent the last two weeks examining the project and interviewing officials involved in its planning and implementation. She added that another phase of the investigation will focus on establishing whether the money already spent corresponds with the amount and quality of work completed.
The IGG spoke after inspecting sections of the expressway corridor alongside officials from the Inspectorate of Government and the Ministry of Works and Transport. During the inspection, her team observed limited visible progress despite official claims, raising questions about the pace and quality of implementation of works made so far. The Inspectorate said the physical verification will provide an independent assessment of whether the reported progress accurately reflects the work delivered.
During the inspection, officials from the Ministry of Works presented project data and maintained that about 47 percent of the construction works have been completed. However, Justice Nalule said the figure would remain subject to independent verification by engineers appointed by the Inspectorate. “Our responsibility is to establish whether the public is receiving value for every shilling invested in this project,” she said.
The audit forms part of a broader investigation involving several government agencies into allegations of irregularities surrounding the expressway. Sources familiar with the inquiry said investigators from the Inspectorate, the Police and State House have over the past several days questioned current officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport as well as former Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) engineers and technical officers who handled the project during its different stages. The officials are understood to have recorded statements on procurement decisions, project supervision, contract implementation and changes made during execution.
Several former UNRA engineers have also been interviewed as investigators seek to establish how the project evolved from its original design and budget.
Summary from source