Works Ministry Denies Blocking Contractors as Stalled Bridge Probe Kicks Off

What the report says

The Ministry of Works and Transport has denied claims that it prevented contractors from appearing before Parliament as lawmakers begin examining delays on more than 30 stalled bridge projects across Uganda. According to Nile Post, the dispute came after three scheduled meetings of the Government Assurance Committee collapsed when officials and contractors did not show up, prompting questions about whether the Ministry had told them to ignore parliamentary summons.

The contractors and ministry officials, including State Minister for Works Siraji Musa Ali, later appeared before the committee on Tuesday, which was chaired by Soroti District Woman MP Anna Adeke Ebaju. Musa Ali rejected the allegations, saying the Ministry respects Parliament and has no role in interfering with its proceedings. Committee members, however, said they had evidence suggesting contractors had received instructions not to attend, and pressed the ministry to clarify the matter.

During the session, contractors said the main cause of the delays was late and irregular release of government funds, which affected procurement of materials and payment of workers. Lawmakers also raised concerns about safety at unfinished bridges, including missing guardrails and warning signs, and the risks to motorists and pedestrians.

The committee said it will visit some of the stalled sites to assess progress and value for money before preparing a report for Parliament. The probe matters because the projects have reportedly remained incomplete for years, raising questions about public spending, infrastructure delivery and road safety.