Parliament Summons Officials Over 30 Stalled Bridge Projects Worth Shs46 Billion

Parliamentary officials in Uganda are demanding accountability for Shs46 billion allocated to 30 bridge projects that remain stalled. The Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurance and Implementation has summoned officials from the Ministries of Finance and Works and Transport, as well as the contractors involved.

During recent oversight visits, the committee discovered that many of these bridge projects, primarily located in the West Nile, Bukedi, Bugisu, and Lango sub-regions, have been abandoned or are incomplete. Committee Chairperson Francis Zaake Butebi stated that there is nothing to show on the ground despite the significant government funding.

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We have released Shs46 billion for these 30 bridges but on the ground there is nothing to show. The bridges are incomplete, some abandoned, and our people in West Nile, Bukedi, Bugisu and Lango are suffering. The contractors must come and explain.

Adding to the hardship, the committee found that individuals whose land was acquired for these projects have not been compensated. Zaake described this as "double punishment" for the communities, who are suffering from the lack of completed infrastructure and the failure to receive payments for their land.

A committee member pointed to poor supervision by the responsible ministries as a key factor in the delays and alleged poor quality of work on some sites. The summoned officials and contractors are expected to appear before the committee next week to explain the reasons for the delays and present a plan for recovering the projects.

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You cannot take people's land and fail to pay them and also fail to deliver the bridge. That is double punishment to our people.