President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has ordered the suspension of several senior officials in the Ministry of Works and Transport as investigations begin into alleged corruption and financial irregularities surrounding the Busega–Mpigi Expressway project.
In a directive dated June 26 and addressed to the Inspector General of Government, the President ordered that three senior engineers—Patrick Muleme, Edwin Raymond Kiyaga, and Dickens Ahimbisibwe—be suspended from duty to pave the way for investigations into the implementation of the expressway project.
The President also directed Mr. Waiswa Bageya, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport, to step aside during the investigations. Ms. Barbara Namugambe, the ministry’s Under Secretary, has been appointed Acting Permanent Secretary.
According to the directive, the investigations will focus on allegations of embezzlement, abuse of office and other irregularities in the execution of the 23-kilometre Busega–Mpigi Expressway and its 20 kilometres of access roads.
The suspensions come amid growing scrutiny over the project’s escalating cost. Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure previously questioned officials after the estimated cost of the project rose from about Shs547.5 billion to more than Shs1.2 trillion, with the Ministry attributing the increase to changes in the project’s design, alignment and additional infrastructure.
Recent reports also indicate that despite substantial funding, only a portion of the works has been completed, prompting concerns over value for money and project management.
The latest action is part of President Museveni’s broader push to strengthen accountability in public infrastructure projects. The Inspectorate of Government is expected to conduct investigations before determining whether criminal or administrative action should be taken against the affected officials.