MPs Probe Shs25bn Uganda Ralways Staff Training Expenditure, Order CID Verification

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Parliament’s Physical Infrastructure Committee has challenged Uganda Railway Corporation (URC) over Shs25 billion said to have been used for staff training under a Spanish-funded project. The committee, chaired by Mwine Mpaka, has instructed URC to provide a complete list of employees recorded as having attended the training, including their telephone contacts, so the information can be independently checked with support from the Criminal Investigations Directorate.

According to the report, URC officials led by Managing Director Benon Kajuna appeared before the committee alongside State Minister for Transport Siraji Maganda Wandera. They told MPs the money covered 43 training programmes for 1,150 employees across the country, including electrical technical skills, performance management, financial analysis, refresher courses, security guard training and other capacity-building activities. URC Human Resource Manager Philip Bosco Asega said departments identified annual training needs through a technical assistance capacity-building programme.

MPs questioned whether the size and logistics of the training were credible, citing examples such as large numbers of staff reportedly attending performance management sessions and security guards being moved for training in Kampala. Mpaka said the committee wants CID to verify whether listed participants were in the stated locations on the relevant days.

Nile Post also reports that the committee is examining disputes involving URC land. It has summoned businessman Godfrey Kirumira, Kampala Capital City Authority officials and the Ministry of Lands to explain how a reported 99-year lease over railway land was obtained. The inquiry is expected to proceed after URC submits the requested records and the summoned officials appear before MPs.