President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the suspension of three senior engineers in the Ministry of Works and Transport and directed Permanent Secretary Waiswa Bageya to step aside.
This is as the government launches a high-level investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the Busega–Mpigi Expressway, a flagship infrastructure project whose cost has ballooned from about Shs600 billion to Shs1.3 trillion.
The directive, contained in a June 26 letter addressed to Inspector General of Government Aisha Naluzze Batoro, signals one of the strongest interventions yet by the President against alleged misconduct in Uganda’s public infrastructure sector.
Suspended pending investigations are Engineers Edwin Raymond Kiyaga, Dickens Ahimbisibwe and Patrick Muleme, who are accused of playing roles in decisions that allegedly inflated the cost of the 23.7-kilometre expressway and its more than 20 kilometres of access roads.
Museveni claims the government originally secured approximately Shs600 billion from the African Development Bank to finance the entire project. However, despite only about 40% of construction reportedly being completed, the funds were fully disbursed.
“The government borrowed Shs600 billion from AfDB 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 asked in his letter, directing investigators to establish how the project exhausted its initial financing.
At the centre of the probe are allegations that ministry engineers altered the original road alignment after compensation had already been completed, diverting the highway through land in which they allegedly had personal interests.
According to the President, the changes triggered fresh compensation claims that significantly increased the project’s overall cost.
“A road that was supposed to cost Shs600 billion is now being put at Shs1.3 trillion,” Museveni wrote, describing those responsible as “thieves” who must be held accountable.
The Inspector General of Government will lead the investigations with support from State House Auditor General John Tumwiine.
Meanwhile, Under Secretary Barbara Namugambe has been appointed Acting Permanent Secretary during Bageya’s absence.
The investigation represents a sharp shift from the Inspectorate of Government’s position only weeks ago.
Following a site inspection in May, Deputy Inspector General of Government Anna Twinomugisha Muhairwe said investigators had been largely satisfied with explanations from ministry officials regarding construction delays and project implementation, although concerns remained over land compensation and encroachment along the road corridor.
The Ministry of Works has consistently maintained that the increase in project financing resulted from legitimate factors rather than corruption.
Officials said the original contract was valued at about Shs547 billion, while an additional €217 million approved by the African Development Bank in late 2025 was intended to finance outstanding compensation, revised construction costs and project completion after earlier funding constraints stalled progress.
The Busega–Mpigi Expressway is one of Uganda’s most strategically important transport projects, designed to ease congestion on the Kampala–Masaka highway and improve connectivity to western and central Uganda.
The project includes four interchanges, toll plazas and supporting infrastructure expected to boost trade and regional transport.
It remains unclear whether the President’s allegations relate specifically to the additional financing approved by the African Development Bank, changes to the project’s scope, compensation processes or other procurement decisions.
The outcome of the investigation is likely to come under close scrutiny from both anti-corruption agencies and Uganda’s development partners, given the scale of public funds involved and the strategic importance of the project.