Uganda IGG clears Works PS, orders interdiction of road commissioner

The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala, has cleared Waiswa Bageya, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Transport, of wrongdoing regarding cost escalations for the Busega–Mpigi Expressway project. Investigations determined that Bageya was not involved in the decisions that led to the increased costs.

However, the IGG has ordered the interdiction of Isaac Wani, the Commissioner for National Roads, to facilitate further investigations. Wani was serving as the director of network planning and engineering at the defunct Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) when the decisions contributing to the cost increases were made.

The Busega–Mpigi Expressway is a major infrastructure project designed to reduce congestion on the Kampala–Masaka highway. The project's estimated cost rose from Shs 547.543 billion in 2019 to Shs 1.35 trillion by March 2023, a surge attributed by the Auditor General to issues involving contract signing before detailed designs and estimates were finalized.