Parliament questions delayed bridge projects in Agago, Dokolo, Tororo and Namisindwa
One of the projects that attracted considerable attention was Amodo Swamp Crossing in Dokolo District, where construction had achieved only about 5% physical progress, nearly nine years after President Yoweri Museveni pledged to construct the bridge in 2017. The bridge is intended to improve connectivity between Dokolo, Amolatar, Kaberamaido and Kalaki districts and facilitate trade with Lira.
MPs also questioned why several construction sites appeared to have been abandoned until the parliamentary committee conducted physical inspections, raising concerns about the Ministry of Works and Transport’s supervision of the projects. (Credit: Vision/Files)
KAMPALA - Parliament has questioned the management of Government’s multi-billion-shilling bridge construction programme after an oversight report exposed questionable payments, stalled projects, unaccounted-for funds, unpaid compensation and safety failures that have been linked to deaths.
The concerns emerged during the presentation of a report by the Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation, chaired by Soroti Woman MP Anna Adeke Ebaju, during the 15th Sitting of the Second Meeting of the First Session of the 12th Parliament on Tuesday.
The report, which examined the Government’s commitment to construct up to 30 bridges across the country, found that some contractors had received more than 90% of their contract payments despite outstanding construction works, while other projects had remained incomplete for years.
MPs also questioned why several construction sites appeared to have been abandoned until the parliamentary committee conducted physical inspections, raising concerns about the Ministry of Works and Transport’s supervision of the projects.
Responding to the concerns, Ali Musa Siraji, the State Minister for Works, told Parliament that the Ministry had received funds from the Ministry of Finance and that most contractors had been paid.
He pledged that all 30 bridges would be completed by July 30, 2027. “All our engineers are working closely to ensure that all 30 bridges are completed by 30th July next year,” Siraji said.
However, MPs questioned whether the Ministry could deliver on the latest commitment, given the history of delays and the condition of several projects inspected by the committee.
Amodo Bridge: Nine years, 5% progress, fresh deaths
One of the projects that attracted considerable attention was Amodo Swamp Crossing in Dokolo District, where construction had achieved only about 5% physical progress, nearly nine years after President Yoweri Museveni pledged to construct the bridge in 2017.
The bridge is intended to improve connectivity between Dokolo, Amolatar, Kaberamaido and Kalaki districts and facilitate trade with Lira.
The committee found that only sh500m had been released against an approved project budget of approximately sh7.486b.
It also questioned the management of the money, particularly the approximately sh206m reportedly remaining in an account at the Ministry’s Gulu Regional Office, for which supporting bank statements had not been provided.
The committee further demanded accountability for construction materials, including Armco culverts and steel that had been relocated from the project site to Gulu.
Joseph Jones Ogwal, the Dokolo North MP, said the situation reflected serious concerns about project management, the handling of public resources and the prolonged failure to fulfil the Government commitment.
“From 2017 to date, the progress attained is only 5%, and yet Government had committed that within 24 months, Amodo Bridge would be completed,” Ogwal said.
He alleged negligence by technical officials, possible corruption and loss of public resources, adding that the Ministry needed to urgently intervene because residents were exposed to dangerous crossings.
Ogwal also questioned the quality and quantity of materials delivered to the site, saying some culverts were reportedly undersized while others were allegedly stolen.
Sarah Aguti, the Dokolo Woman MP, welcomed the committee’s intervention, saying its oversight visit had helped revive activity at the site
However, she disclosed that two people had died in an accident at the swamp the previous week, while two others survived.
Aguti said the Ministry needed to deploy more equipment and construction materials to accelerate the work, noting that the site was currently operating with two tipper trucks and an excavator.
The deaths add to the committee’s findings of fatalities associated with unsafe crossings elsewhere in the bridge programme.
Sh25.9b paid as bridges remain incomplete
The report also questioned the financial management of Lot 6, comprising Odrua, Osu and Kochi bridges, where contractor Dynaco Limited had received sh25.9b, representing 91.4% of the sh28.33b contract sum.
At Odrua Bridge, the structure was handed over to Government on May 29, 2026, despite a Ministry snag list documenting outstanding critical works on the same day.
The contractor had reported 98% completion and promised to address the remaining works within 30 days
The committee questioned whether the approximately sh1.2b retained by the Ministry would be sufficient to complete the outstanding works and recommended a comprehensive audit of the contract by the Auditor General.
Under Lot 2, covering six bridges in Namisindwa and Tororo districts, the committee also identified a discrepancy in the Ministry's financial records.
While the Ministry reported payments of sh19.56b to China Railway Seventh Group, the payment records presented to the committee supported sh19.41b, leaving a difference of approximately sh157.57m.
The committee further questioned reported physical progress of 75% to 78%, noting that several essential works, including approach roads, drainage, gabions and safety signage, remained outstanding.
It recommended an audit of all payments under the contract, with the Auditor General required to report to Parliament within six months of adoption of the report.
Aca crossing: Sh5.59b paid, but works below 30%
At Aca Swamp Crossing in Madi-Okollo District, the committee questioned the relationship between payments made and actual construction progress.
The contractor, Terrain Services Limited, had received sh5.59b, representing 73.1% of the sh7.64b contract sum.
Although the Ministry reported physical progress of 65%, the committee assessed the actual works at less than 30%.
The project, initially designed as a 15-metre composite bridge, was redesigned into a 2.18-kilometre crossing comprising 12 reinforced concrete box culverts after engineers reviewed the site's hydrological conditions.
However, the committee found that only six of the 12 culverts had been backfilled, leaving the crossing impassable during heavy rains.
Khemis Muzaid, the Arua Central Division MP, questioned the justification for the substantial payments when the physical works were still far behind the Ministry’s reported progress.
He also questioned whether the Ministry could guarantee the quality and safety of bridges whose expected lifespan was estimated at 120 years, given the construction deficiencies identified by the committee.
Compensation failures, allegations of bribery
The report also exposed the difficulties faced by communities whose land, houses, crops and other property were affected by bridge construction.
In Namisindwa, residents reported cracked and collapsed houses and displacement, but the Ministry confirmed that compensation had not been paid.
Some affected residents had pursued their claims through a grievance committee established in 2021 and Civil Suit No. 062 of 2025 before the High Court in Mbale.
The committee also received allegations that some residents seeking compensation were asked to pay bribes to have their claims processed.
It recommended that the Inspectorate of Government investigate the allegations and that the Ministry establish an updated register of all affected persons.
However, MPs raised differing accounts about compensation at Kochi Bridge. Musa Karim, the Aringa North MP, said local leaders he interacted with had confirmed that some affected residents had been compensated.
He nevertheless called for investigations into an allegation that one claimant had been asked to pay a bribe before receiving compensation.
The committee had recommended investigations by the Inspectorate of Government and full verification of outstanding claims.
Jessica Ababiku, the Adjumani Woman MP, said Government needed to review its compensation processes to ensure that valuation, assessment and resolution of disputes were completed early enough to avoid unnecessary delays.
Incomplete bridges linked to deaths, accidents
Beyond financial accountability, MPs raised concerns about the safety of communities using bridges before construction and safety installations were completed.
The committee reported that a young man died in July 2026 after losing control of his motorcycle and falling off the incomplete, unguarded Nametsimeri Bridge in Namisindwa District.
It attributed the danger to the absence of adequate guardrails, barriers and warning signs.
At Osu Bridge, residents reported motorcycle accidents associated with speeding on paved approaches without adequate road markings and speed humps.
The committee also found that drainage deficiencies at Kochi had contributed to deep gullies along the road.
It recommended immediate installation of temporary safety barriers, guardrails and warning signs at incomplete or newly opened bridges.
It further proposed that no bridge should be opened to public traffic or issued with a taking-over certificate before the installation of essential safety features.
The committee also called for special compensation for families whose relatives died as a result of the bridge construction projects.
MPs question supervision of projects
The findings prompted MPs to question why Government projects required parliamentary intervention before contractors and supervising engineers could resume serious work.
Lowila Oketayot, the Pader Woman MP, observed that some contractors appeared to have become active only after learning that the committee was visiting their sites.
“Must members always be moving for serious work to be done?” she asked. She said the delays were worrying, particularly because communities in other districts were also waiting for bridges to improve access to services
Oketayot cited a proposed bridge over River Agago in Pader, which separates two sub-counties and affects access to services for several villages
She called for stronger supervision by the responsible ministries to ensure projects were completed within agreed timelines.
David Kabanda, the Kasambya County MP, raised concerns about Government making presidential pledges without adequately considering the availability of funding to implement them.
He said unfulfilled promises often left constituency MPs facing criticism from residents who expected them to ensure that presidential commitments were implemented.
The committee also found that district local governments were largely excluded from project planning and implementation, with several district leaders saying they had not received project designs, bills of quantities, contractor details or progress reports.
It recommended mandatory monthly coordination meetings and information-sharing between the Ministry and affected local governments.
Auditor General asked to investigate bridge programme
In its recommendations, the committee called for a comprehensive forensic audit of all bridge contracts under Project 1320 to establish the actual physical status of works, funds disbursed and outstanding contractual obligations.
It also recommended independent physical verification before further disbursements exceeding 80% of contract sums on ongoing projects.
The Ministry of Works was asked to account for funds received from the Ministry of Finance within three months of Parliament adopting the report.
For Amodo Bridge, the committee demanded accountability for the unspent funds and relocated construction materials, alongside predictable quarterly funding to prevent further delays.
It also questioned the cost-effectiveness of the Force Account arrangement, under which the Ministry uses its own staff and equipment to execute construction works, recommending stronger financial and logistical controls.