Works ministry ordered to account for ex-UNRA employees

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Parliament has ordered the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) to update it on the fate of the former Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).

Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi (FDC) issued the directive on Friday, July 18, 2025.

This was during an interaction between MOWT officials led by Permanent Secretary Waiswa Bageya and the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE). The engagement was anchored on the Auditor General (AG) Edward Akol’s audit report on UNRA for the 2023/24 Financial Year (FY).

“Can you give us a list that transited with you and are still working or employed. And those, you are talking of terminal benefits, whose contracts were terminated. At least for us to be assured that you are also protecting that group. We want to get assurance that the voiceless are also protected,” said Bageya.

“In terms of timelines, if you can submit it by Tuesday next week. Because we are in the process of writing our report,” said Bageya.

This followed concerns that were raised by Kashari South MP Nathan Itungo (Independent).

“We also want to know in the brief whether you have fully paid the UNRA staff. Because the last time, we were here, people were saying some have been paid while others haven’t. In that payment, there was something to do with severance package. What happened to it? There is a way how you brought in law and disadvantaged workers,” Itungo argued.

“It is on record that the Ministry of Public Service assured us that whoever is going to be affected, money has been set aside. Of the two, who was telling lies? Was the minister telling us lies or you are the ones (works) who were not telling us the truth?” Charles Bakkabulindi (Workers MP) inquired.

UNRA merger

UNRA headed by Allen Kagina was mainstreamed into the parent ministry towards the end of last year. At the time, official documents seen by New Vision Online indicate Government had planned to save approximately sh427.186billion.

“UNRA (responsible for 21,000km) has a staff establishment of 1,397 employees, compared to the Tanzania Roads Agency (responsible for 34,500km) with a staff establishment of 700 employees. Ghana Highways Authority (responsible for 14,000km) has a staff establishment of 680 (Source: UNABSEC Advisory Note to the Committee of parliament on physical infrastructure),” the Physical Infrastructure committee stated.

“UNRA's staff establishment of 1,397 translates into 8 staff per 100km of road network compared to the regional average of 2 staff per 100km,” it added.

Speaker raises alarm

However, while chairing plenary on May 29 this year, Speaker Anita Annet Among disclosed that due to disagreements in their compensation package, some former employees had dragged Government to court.

“This House passed sh61billion for these people to be paid. Because these people have not been paid, they have ended up going to court,” Among revealed.

“One of the reasons for us to rationalise was not to make these people disadvantaged. These people have been working for this country, and we ought to pay for what they have been doing,” she argued.

Adding that Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua should follow up with the Minister of Public Service to ensure the matter is resolved.

“The problem that is coming up is the calculation of terminal benefits. Whereas the Ministry of Public Service is saying these people should be paid only sh25b, but then the normal calculation says sh61b. The issue must be reconciled,” Among reiterated.

Ministry speaks out

On Friday, MoWT Permanent Secretary Waiswa Bageya told MPs that the ministry had made good on their part. And that the issue of severance packages now lies between the former UNRA employees and Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka.

“The money for terminal benefits was voted and released to us, and we have paid. There could be some problems of the payment bouncing because of the system. But where payment bounced, we managed to put that money on a special account,” Bageya said.

“After sorting it out, we are going to pay. The issue of severance package, this was a matter between the workers, the employing board and the attorney general. This matter is not within our ambit,” he added.