Parliament has launched a fresh inquiry into delayed and abandoned road projects, with the Ministry of Works and Transport set to appear before the Committee on Physical Infrastructure to explain persistent implementation challenges affecting the country’s transport sector.
The Committee Chairperson, Mwine Mpaka, said the Ministry will be the first government entity to appear before the committee as Parliament begins its oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Speaking to journalists at Parliament on Monday, Mpaka said the inquiry follows findings in the Auditor General’s 2025 Report, which identified 28 delayed road projects and 13 abandoned projects across the country.
He said the committee has directed the Ministry to present all contracts awarded for the affected projects to help legislators establish the causes of the delays and determine whether taxpayers are receiving value for money.
According to Mpaka, the committee will examine procurement contracts, implementation timelines, contractor performance, financing arrangements and contract variations that may have contributed to escalating project costs.
The investigation is also informed by the Ministry of Finance’s report on externally funded projects, which indicated that most government-funded infrastructure projects were behind schedule. Of the 59 externally financed projects under implementation, only four were on track, while 48 had fallen behind schedule.
Mpaka noted that delays in road construction not only increase project costs but also slow economic growth by affecting trade, business operations and government revenue collection.
He added that the committee will also investigate why road construction in Uganda is reportedly more expensive than in neighbouring East African countries despite similar engineering conditions.
Beyond roads, Parliament’s oversight programme will extend to the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), where lawmakers will assess the city’s preparedness for the anticipated August 2026 rains and measures being implemented to prevent flooding.
The committee will also engage the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on developments in Uganda’s aviation sector and Uganda Airlines, before meeting officials from the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) to assess progress on the Standard Gauge Railway, rehabilitation of the metre gauge railway, alleged encroachment on railway reserve land and delays in installing safety barriers at railway crossings.
The inquiry marks one of the first major oversight exercises by the 12th Parliament as lawmakers seek greater accountability in the implementation of public infrastructure projects financed through both domestic resources and external borrowing.
