IGG clears works PS Bageya, orders interdiction of Engineer Wani

What the report says

The Inspector General of Government, Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala, has cleared Ministry of Works and Transport Permanent Secretary Waiswa Bageya of wrongdoing in the rising cost of the Busega–Mpigi Expressway, according to The Independent Uganda. In a statement dated October 23, 2026, the Inspectorate said its inquiry found that Bageya was not part of the earlier decisions linked to the project’s cost escalation. It has also directed the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, Ruth Nakyobe Mbonye, to let him return to work.

At the same time, the IGG ordered the interdiction of Commissioner for National Roads Engineer Isaac Wani while investigations continue into his alleged role in the controversy. The Inspectorate said Wani was serving as Director of Network Planning and Engineering at the former Uganda National Roads Authority when key decisions were taken. Bageya has been instructed to implement the interdiction and make temporary arrangements to keep the ministry functioning.

The Busega–Mpigi Expressway is a 23.7-kilometre project intended to reduce congestion on the Kampala–Masaka corridor and improve links to western Uganda. The article notes that its projected cost has risen sharply over time, drawing scrutiny from auditors, Parliament and the Inspectorate. The Independent Uganda reported that the Auditor General previously flagged weaknesses in design preparation and that the project has also faced delays tied to land acquisition, compensation, design changes and funding gaps.

The latest IGG action is part of a broader probe into how the expressway’s scope and budget changed, and whether the alterations were properly approved.