How road mafias are eating billions

What the report says

The Observer reports that Uganda’s Works and Transport minister Fred Byamukama has accused officials, contractors and other actors in the roads sector of running schemes that inflate costs and divert public money. In the article, he says corruption in road projects may be costing the government as much as Shs 50 billion every three months, with losses coming through inflated contracts, manipulated designs and questionable compensation claims. The newspaper notes that these are allegations from the minister, and the text provided does not include responses from the officials he named.

Byamukama pointed to several projects and practices he says illustrate the problem. These included claims of fake graves, newly built structures placed on road corridors before valuation, and land titles created in wetlands and later used to seek compensation. He also alleged that employees connected to the ministry benefited from compensation tied to the Kyaliwajjala, Kira, Matugga Road. On the Busega Expressway, he said a project expected to cost Shs 600 billion rose to Shs 2 trillion after what he described as abuse in land acquisition and route changes.

The article also links the issue to wider fiscal pressure, noting Uganda’s rising debt-servicing burden and large allocations for interest payments in the 2026/27 budget. Byamukama further alleged attempts to inflate costs on roads linked to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and raised concerns about slow progress on the Masaka–Mutukula Road, which he said was only 23% complete. The piece presents these claims as part of a broader struggle over public accountability in infrastructure spending.