President Yoweri Museveni has suspended three senior engineers in the Ministry of Works and Transport and directed Permanent Secretary Waiswa Bageya to proceed on leave as investigations begin into alleged corruption in the implementation of the Busega–Mpigi Expressway project.
The move follows concerns that the cost of the 23-kilometre expressway and its 20 kilometres of access roads had more than doubled from an initial Shs600 billion to approximately Shs1.3 trillion.
In a June 26, 2026 letter addressed to Inspector General of Government Justice Aisha Naluzze Batoro, Museveni directed that Engineers Edwin Raymond Kiyaga, Dickens Ahimbisibwe, and Patrick Muleme be suspended from duty pending investigations into alleged embezzlement and abuse of office in the project’s implementation.
The President also ordered PS Waiswa Bageya to step aside for the duration of the investigations. Under Secretary Barbara Namugambe has been appointed acting Permanent Secretary.
The directive follows reports that senior ministry officials had already been instructed to proceed on leave as scrutiny into the project intensified.
Museveni said government had initially secured Shs600 billion from the African Development Bank (ADB) to fully finance the project, but despite only about 40% of the works being completed, the entire amount had already been spent.
“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. What happened?” Museveni wrote.
He further accused some engineers of altering the original road alignment for personal gain, allegedly redirecting the route through land they had interests in, triggering additional compensation costs.
“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. A road that was supposed to cost Shs600 billion is now being put at Shs1.3 trillion. These thieves must be destroyed,” the President said.
Museveni also directed the Inspectorate of Government to lead the investigations, supported by State House Auditor General John Tumwiine.
“I therefore direct that Engineers Kiyaga, Ahimbisibwe and Muleme are suspended from duty and are investigated. You lead the investigations but my Auditor Tumwiine should also be involved,” he added.
The suspension marks a sharp escalation in scrutiny of the project, coming weeks after the Inspectorate of Government conducted a site inspection alongside officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Following that visit, Deputy Inspector General of Government Anna Twinomugisha Muhairwe had said the Inspectorate was largely satisfied with explanations provided by engineers regarding the project’s progress.
“We are almost convinced with the explanation that they gave,” she said at the time.
However, she raised concerns over illegal developments within the road corridor and inconsistencies in compensation for affected property owners.
Officials from the Ministry of Works had earlier explained that the increased project cost reflected additional financing approved after delays and scope adjustments, including an extra €217 million (about Shs909 billion) from the African Development Bank in December 2025.
The Busega–Mpigi Expressway is a key infrastructure project linking Kampala to central Uganda. It includes a four-lane expressway, interchanges, toll plazas, and supporting access roads.
Neither the suspended officials nor the Ministry of Works and Transport had publicly responded to the allegations by the time of publication.
