President Yoweri Museveni has suspended the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Waiswa Bageya, as investigations intensify into alleged corruption in the Busega–Mpigi Expressway project.
In a directive, Museveni ordered a probe into what he described as the “embezzlement of funds” in the construction of the expressway.
“The Government borrowed Shs600 billion from ADB to do the Expressway 100%. As of now only 40% of the work has been done but all the money was paid,” Museveni wrote.
The President raised concern over possible manipulation of the project design, saying some officials may have altered the original road alignment for personal gain.
“The corrupt engineers altered the route of the road and avoided the route that was already compensated for and charted a new route going through their own lands that needed fresh compensation,” he stated.
He added that the changes had significantly driven up the cost of the project.
“A road that was supposed to cost Shs600 billion is now being put at Shs1.3 trillion,” Museveni said.
Museveni directed that three engineers—Edwin Raymond Kiyaga, Dickens Ahimbisibwe, and Patrick Muleme—be suspended and investigated over their alleged role in the matter.
“I, therefore, direct that Engineers Edwin Raymond Kiyaga, Dickens Ahimbisibwe and Patrick Muleme are suspended from duty and are investigated,” he wrote.
He further ordered that Bageya steps aside during the investigations.
“The Permanent Secretary of Works, Waiswa Bageya, is sent on leave for the duration of the investigations,” Museveni directed, adding that Under Secretary Barbara Namugambe should serve as acting Permanent Secretary.
The President also instructed that the investigations be led by relevant authorities with support from his auditor.
“You lead the investigations but my Auditor Tumwiine should also be involved,” he said.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the Ministry of Works and Transport were still ongoing by press time.
The Busega–Mpigi Expressway is a key infrastructure project intended to ease traffic congestion along the Kampala–Masaka highway and improve connectivity within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
