Mpigi-Busega Expressway Scandal: Gen Katumba Wamala Breaks Silence Amid IGG Probe

The unfolding controversy surrounding the Busega–Mpigi Expressway has placed the country at a moment of reckoning, prompting renewed calls for clarity, accountability and truth.

As investigations intensify under the directive of President Yoweri Museveni, immediate former Minister of Works and Transport, General Edward Katumba Wamala, has broken his silence, offering a detailed and sober account of the circumstances that led to the current impasse.

His reflections come at a time when public discourse is dominated by allegations of inflated costs, procurement irregularities, compensation anomalies, questionable redesigns, and administrative lapses that have collectively stalled one of Uganda’s most strategic infrastructure projects.

General Katumba, who served as Minister of Works and Transport from June 2021 until his departure in May 2024, has been repeatedly mentioned in public debates owing to his former supervisory role.

Yet, he maintains that the facts, once properly examined, will demonstrate that the core decisions that shaped the project—and the challenges that later emerged—were made long before the Ministry of Works assumed responsibility.

According to him, the Busega–Mpigi Expressway was under the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) from its inception in 2019 until 23 December 2024, when the agency was absorbed into the Ministry under the Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) reforms.

During this period, UNRA operated as a self‑accounting entity reporting directly to the Ministry of Finance, with its Executive Director exercising full contractual authority.

The documentary record supports this position. The Civil Works Contract was signed on 18 June 2019 by UNRA, and the Consultancy Services Contract for design review and construction supervision was signed earlier on 19 December 2018.

UNRA issued the Notice to Commence on 22 January 2019, communicated the revised road alignment on 10 July 2019, and approved the Final Design Update on 8 October 2021. It was also UNRA that authorized implementation of the revised design and scope on 8 February 2022.

By the time RAPEX transferred the project to the Ministry, the revised alignment had already been adopted, the design update completed, and the project had reached approximately 46% physical progress.

The contractor had even suspended works in August 2024 due to exhaustion of the original contract amount and absence of confirmed financing for the expanded scope.

It is against this backdrop that General Katumba asserts his innocence. “Mpigi–Busega road project only came under the Ministry long after commencement in December 2024.

In fact, neither the minister nor the Permanent Secretary were involved in the contracts process.

“That’s why I keep saying I haven’t done anything wrong and pray that investigations will prove that,” he explained.

His remarks also extend to the interdicted Permanent Secretary, whom he defends on the grounds that the alleged irregularities occurred before UNRA was transferred to the Ministry.

Upon assuming oversight of the project, General Katumba was confronted with a dramatically altered landscape.

UNRA had already contracted Dohwa Engineering Co. Ltd., in joint venture with IDCG Engineering Group and TB3 Global Ltd., to undertake a comprehensive design update.

The revised design—necessitated by significant changes on the ground—expanded the expressway from 23.7 km to 26.7 km, increased interchanges from one to four, introduced 16.71 km of link roads, 4.59 km of service roads, four toll plazas, 13 bridges, 76 box culverts, and extensive swamp treatment works.

The redesign also incorporated harmonization with the Standard Gauge Railway, avoidance of newly established industrial facilities, compliance with expressway standards on vertical grades and sight distances, and mitigation of community severance in areas such as Kiringete.

These adjustments were not cosmetic; they fundamentally altered the engineering requirements, quantities, and cost structure of the project.

The consequences were substantial. The original contract amount of UGX 547.5 billion ballooned to an estimated UGX 1.37 trillion by October 2024, driven by massive increases in earthworks, drainage, structures, and pavement layers. Common excavation increased by 556%, swamp excavation by 1,574%, G15 material by 425%, G7 fill by 326%, dumped rock by 2,119%, and crusher run by 592%.

Bridges expanded from six to thirteen, and box culverts from 618 meters to 3,156 meters. These figures, documented in the Bills of Quantities revisions, illustrate the scale of transformation that occurred under UNRA’s watch.

Faced with these realities, General Katumba initiated an independent review to establish value for money.

A multidisciplinary committee was constituted in January 2025, and its final report in April 2025 recommended adjustments to rates and quantities, ultimately arriving at a lower cost estimate than that proposed by the Supervision Consultant.

The committee also concluded that continuing with the existing contractor was the most prudent option, given the risks associated with termination and re‑procurement.

This position was later reinforced by a special audit commissioned by the African Development Bank in April 2025, which recommended direct contracting as the most practical path to completion.

Government subsequently secured additional financing from the African Development Bank Group, with loan negotiations concluded on 3 July 2025 and agreements signed on 12 December 2025.

Procurement for the additional scope followed, culminating in negotiations that reduced the contractor’s proposed price from UGX 1.98 trillion to UGX 1.398 trillion.

Notably, the contractor waived 11 out of 13 claims amounting to UGX 279 billion, significantly reducing government exposure.

General Katumba believes these steps demonstrate his commitment to transparency and prudent management.

He welcomes the ongoing investigations by the Inspector General of Government and Parliament’s Committee on Infrastructure, urging them to make their findings public so that the country can finally understand the truth behind the saga. He remains confident that the facts will vindicate him.

Reflecting on his tenure, the retiring General acknowledges the challenges he faced but expresses pride in his contributions.

He cites the timely delivery of numerous road projects, the revival of the railway system, the rejuvenation of Uganda Airlines, and improvements within the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority as achievements that define his legacy.

He emphasizes that throughout his forty‑seven years of service, he has never stolen public funds, even during periods when accountability mechanisms were weak.

As the country awaits the outcome of the investigations into the multi‑trillion‑shilling expressway saga, General Katumba’s message is clear: the truth must prevail.

The probe, he insists, is not merely an administrative exercise but a national necessity—one that will determine not only accountability for past decisions but also the integrity of future infrastructure development.

In his view, the country deserves a full, honest account of what transpired, and only through transparency can justice, confidence, and progress be restored.

It should be remembered that President Museveni has fired works ministry engineers over corruption, as reported Here.

Gen Katumba Wamala is now at the Ministry of Public Service where he started off with key announcements on the salary increment for secondary arts teachers and primary school teachers. (See Details Here, There and Over There).