Parliament demands action amid road fatalities and funding gaps

_________________

The State Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Henry Musasizi, has acknowledged that the current road budget is too small to meet Uganda’s construction and maintenance needs. Despite this, he affirmed the Ministry of Finance's commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Works and Transport to mobilise additional resources and keep critical projects on track.

“We have assigned a focal point person at the Ministry of Works to coordinate road action plans,” Musasizi told Parliament, in response to a ministerial statement presented by Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala on the state of Uganda’s roads.

Dr Yusuf Kiwala, a lecturer and researcher at the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Makerere University, emphasised the need for government to explore alternative sources of funding for its development projects. Kiwala proposed options such as innovative financing mechanisms, blended finance, and attracting private sector investment, including support from institutions like the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

Gen. Katumba, the works and transport minister, painted a grim picture of the situation. Funding shortfalls amounting to sh2.47 trillion have severely disrupted national road construction and maintenance. Key areas affected include land acquisition, gravel road upkeep, and efforts to expand the paved road network.

Musasizi said government has allocated sh3.1 trillion for road infrastructure in the 2025/26 financial year. Of this, sh1.14 trillion has already been released for the first quarter, with sh123.7 billion made immediately available to the ministry.

“We are still awaiting additional spending plans from the Ministry of Works,” he added.

The deteriorating condition of Uganda’s roads and the alarming rise in road fatalities dominated Wednesday’s plenary sitting. MPs pressed the government to close funding gaps, revive stalled projects, and confront the country’s road safety crisis head-on.

Their outrage was sparked by a deadly crash on the Hoima–Buliisa road in Kigorobya on August 5, 2025, where a truck carrying traders overturned, killing at least 20 people and injuring many others.

The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, led calls for a more proactive, holistic approach to infrastructure and safety.

“As we strive to improve roads, we must also prioritise road safety,” she said, citing the Uganda Police Force’s 2024 Annual Crime Report, which recorded 25,107 road crashes and 25,808 casualties.

Among warned that poor road conditions, reckless driving, and weak enforcement create a “deadly combination.” Lawmakers echoed this concern, pointing to impassable roads, delayed compensation, and failure by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to absorb and utilise allocated funds.

Bright Amooti (Kyaka Central) decried the Kyegegwa–Kakumiro road, now virtually unusable. “Over 15 trucks are parked because the road is impassable,” he said.

Gorreth Namugga (NUP, Mawogola South) called for the urgent release of funds, including sh1.1 trillion in arrears and sh850 billion for periodic maintenance. “We are here for money, not to lament,” she declared.

Katumba warned of escalating costs due to deferred maintenance. “Rehabilitation costs Shs2.59 billion per kilometre, three times more than periodic maintenance. Delays could cause preventable losses of up to sh180 billion,” he said.

He outlined a sh2.472 trillion funding gap for FY2025/26, including sh1.071 trillion in arrears and sh443 billion for land acquisition. As of July 2025, 27 road projects – 18 government-funded and nine donor-supported – have stalled or slowed due to delayed payments and lack of counterpart funding.

Contractors have now been engaged for key roads, including Mityana–Mubende, Nebbi–Arua, Ishaka–Mbarara, and Mpondwe. A UNRA road unit previously assigned to Jinja Road has been redeployed to rehabilitate the deteriorating Kyegegwa–Kyenjojo road.

Speaker Among raised deeper concerns about poor workmanship and Uganda’s overreliance on foreign loans. “Most roads don’t last. By the time we rehabilitate them, we’re still paying for their initial construction,” she said.

Among listed several roads now in ruins, including Mityana–Mubende, Mukono–Jinja, Ibanda–Mbarara, and Mbarara–Ishaka, and revealed that President Museveni has directed the Ministry of Finance to allocate sh3.2 trillion specifically for their rehabilitation.

Katumba said that 23 regional road stations are now operational following staffing efforts, and these will support ongoing maintenance. The debate shifted to safety enforcement, with MPs calling for road markings, better signage, and regulation of the informal transport sector.

Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West) urged the Committee on Physical Infrastructure to prioritise road signage to improve night-time visibility.

Juliet Kinyamatama (Rakai district) called for a safer and more affordable transport system for traders, warning that current conditions are forcing dangerous improvisation.

Internal affairs state minister David Muhoozi acknowledged enforcement gaps and pledged a comprehensive strategy.

“We are considering a dedicated road safety inspection unit and expanding CCTV surveillance to monitor rogue behaviour. There are good traffic officers and bad apples,” Muhoozi told Parliament.