Namisindwa, Uganda: A Shs1.1 billion road rehabilitation project in Namisindwa District is in crisis after it emerged that only 10% of the work has been completed nearly three months after its launch, raising alarm over alleged mismanagement and lack of accountability.
The 9.8km Bumbo–Bumwali–Matua road, funded under the Oil Seed Project and commissioned in February 2025 with a six-month completion timeline, has made little visible progress as of early May. A monitoring visit by Assistant Resident District Commissioner (ARDC) Bosco Nabogge on Wednesday uncovered glaring irregularities on site, including use of rudimentary construction methods and claims of unpaid labor.
At Bumwalye bridge, Nabogge found casual workers manually crushing stones after being reportedly instructed to do so by the project engineer, despite the project’s billion-shilling budget.
“There is no justification for a lack of machinery on a Shs1.1 billion project,” Nabogge said. “There’s clearly no visible value for money. If this continues, taxpayers will lose big.”
Nabogge also condemned the use of what he described as “substandard culverts” and called for the adoption of standard materials to ensure durability. He revealed that several casual workers had not received payment, further contributing to delays on the site.
John Wamundu, a resident of Bumwalye, expressed fears that the project may remain incomplete even after the deadline lapses. “We’re at 10% already in May. I doubt anything meaningful will be done by August,” he said.
District leaders have also voiced deep frustration. Masayi Peter, Chairperson of the Works and Technical Committee, said the project reflects a pattern of poor execution despite increased funding. “Road funds have increased from Shs400 million in the last term to Shs1.4 billion this term, but there’s nothing to show for it,” he noted.
Peter blamed the concentration of project oversight in the hands of a few individuals, including the District Chairman, Mr. Jackson Wakweika, who also serves as Secretary for Works and chairs the committee. “We keep passing budgets with optimism, but the quality of work is disappointing. And when we demand accountability, it is taken the wrong way,” he said.
When reached for comment, Wakweika attributed the delays to heavy rains but declined to respond to broader allegations of poor oversight or non-performance by the contractor.
The project has now drawn the attention of both local leadership and the central government amid fears that if the current pace continues, Namisindwa could lose yet another major infrastructure investment to mismanagement.
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