Recover every stolen shilling, make the corrupt pay Uganda back

What the report says

The Observer’s commentary focuses on corruption allegations in Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport and argues that anti-graft efforts should prioritize recovering stolen public funds. It cites Minister Fred Byamukama, who says corruption in road projects could be costing as much as Shs 50 billion every three months, with alleged schemes including inflated contracts, altered road designs, dubious compensation claims and collusion between officials and contractors.

The piece highlights several examples raised by the minister, including claims that fake graves were planted along a planned road to support compensation demands. It also says the cost of the Busega Expressway project reportedly climbed from Shs 600 billion to Shs 2 trillion, while the Masaka–Mutukula Road is described as facing pressure for an additional Shs 150 billion despite limited progress. The article notes that these are allegations that still require investigation and due process.

Beyond the specific cases, the commentary argues that Uganda’s response to corruption should not stop at arrests and prison sentences. It says convicted offenders should also lose assets linked to stolen public money, with recovered funds returned to the affected projects, especially roads. The writer frames this as a practical way to reduce taxpayer losses, improve accountability and deter future theft, particularly at a time when the country is carrying heavy debt costs.