The Muyembe–Nakapiripirit road project, a 95-kilometre road being upgraded to tarmac at a cost of Shs 399 billion, has suffered severe delays and low progress since its commissioning in 2019. The project is jointly funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Government of Uganda, and is being constructed by M/S Polat Yol Yapu Sanayi Ve Ticaret.
According to sources, the delays and low progress are attributed to alleged collusion between some top UNRA engineers and the contractor. The engineers, including Eng. Samuel Muhoozi, a former Director of Roads and Bridges Development, and Mr. Alfred Agik, are accused of making route alignment changes of 300 to 500 metres without genuine technical reasons, triggering land compensation payouts.
Eng. Samuel Muhoozi, who also worked as Acting Executive Director at UNRA and as the former head of Roads and Bridges Development at the Ministry of Works and Transport, has been implicated in the alleged corruption. His name has been mentioned alongside Mr. Alfred Agik and Titus Aleper as central officials being accused of collusion with the contractor, Yol Yapi Sanayi Ve Ticaret.
The alleged corruption has resulted in significant financial losses, with estimates suggesting that about Shs 2 trillion was lost on the project. The delays and corruption have hindered the project's progress, with work on the road still staggering.
The Ankole Times has obtained documents that implicate the officials and the contractor in the alleged corruption. The documents reveal that the route alignment changes made by the engineers without genuine technical reasons led to increased land compensation payouts.
The Muyembe–Nakapiripirit road project has been plagued by corruption and delays, raising concerns about the standard of investigations into corruption in Uganda. The country's anti-corruption efforts have been criticized for not conducting in-depth investigations, which has allowed officials like Eng. Samuel Muhoozi to avoid arrest.
The project's delays and alleged corruption have significant implications for the country's infrastructure development and the government's efforts to improve the road network. The incident highlights the need for more effective anti-corruption measures to ensure that public funds are used efficiently and effectively.
Key points
- The Muyembe–Nakapiripirit road project has faced severe delays and low progress due to alleged collusion between top UNRA engineers and the contractor.
- The alleged corruption has resulted in significant financial losses, with estimates suggesting that about Shs 2 trillion was lost on the project.
- The incident highlights the need for more effective anti-corruption measures to ensure that public funds are used efficiently and effectively.
