Who are the new UNRA board members?

Mar 15, 2017

The entire board was sacked following investigations into alleged corruption

A new board of directors was inaugurated on Tuesday to oversee the operations of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), the agency responsible for Uganda's road network.

Former state minister for finance (General Duties), Jachan Omach was sworn in as the new chairperson of a seven-member board.

The other new board members are: Eng Samson Bagonza, Dr Joseph Muvawala, Laban Mbulamuko, Petra Sansa, the UNRA executive director, Allen Kagina (ex-officio) and Eng Umaru Bagampadde.

The new board comes at the dawn of a recent restructuring exercise that saw many UNRA staff and an entire board sacked following investigations into alleged corruption.

At the inauguration of the new board yesterday, Kagina promised a corruption-free institution which is capable of detecting fraud

"We want UNRA to be divorced from corruption so that the two are not mentioned in the same sentence," she stated.

Although UNRA holds about 20% of Uganda's $25b national budget and 80% of the works ministry's budget, Kagina listed inadequate funding as one of the institution's core concerns.

UNRA was created by an Act of Parliament in 2006 to develop and maintain the national roads network, advise the government on general roads policy and help address national transport concerns.

Jachan Omach (chairperson, UNRA board of directors)

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and social administration from Makerere University, in addition to numerous qualifications. He has previously served as state minister for finance planning, member of the Pan African parliament and MP for Jonam County. He was director of the Rural Development Bank and general manager of the defunct Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB).  

Dr Umaru Bagampadde

He holds a Doctorate in highway pavement materials from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden and a Master's degree in highway engineering from the University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dharam, Saudi Arabia and a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering (First Class) from Makerere University.

 

He is a member of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers. He is an associate professor and dean, School of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology at Makerere University. He represents professional engineers as UNRA board member.

Eng Samson Bagonza

He holds a Master of Science degree in highway engineering from the University of Birmingham, UK and a Bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Makerere University. He is a chartered engineer with the UK Engineering Council. He is currently the director of engineering and works at the ministry of works and transport.

 

He is responsible for the supervision of the department of standards and quality management, roads, bridges, public structures and mechanical services. He is the project manager for all infrastructure improvement contracts at the ministry and provides technical advisory services to several government departments. He represents the ministry of works at the UNRA board.

Petra Sansa Tenywa

She holds a Master of Science degree in procurement and supply chain management from Makerere University, a Master's degree from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Management Supplies and a Bachelors of Arts degree from the International Institute of Business and Media Studies and a diploma in journalism.

 

She has worked with Stanbic Bank Uganda as manager procurement and currently works with Huawei Technologies. She has previously worked as procurement and principal procurement officer at Centenary Bank. She joins UNRA board representing the private sector.

Dr Joseph Muvawala

He holds a doctorate in economics with vast experience in public sector economics. He is the executive director of the National Planning Authority (NPA). He led the development of Uganda's National Development Plan (NDP) and has got exposure in public sector management, from revenue mobilization and fiscal and monetary strategies. He joins the UNRA board as a representative of the planning authority.

Laban Mbulamuko

He is the commissioner for infrastructure and social services, board member of the Cotton Development Organisation and the Standard Gauge Railway project. He is also a member of the Busitema University Council and chairperson of the project Technical Committee of the Albertine Region for Sustainable Development.

 

He is a member of the project steering committee of Isimba and Karuma Hydropower stations and a member of the Crude Oil Export Pipeline project development team. He represents ministry of finance to the board.

Allen Kagina

She is the executive director of UNRA and joins the board as an ex-officio member.

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