Politics 9 August 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Engineer Thibenda Denies Receiving Billions from URC Capacity Building Project
Engineer Moris Thibenda has vehemently denied allegations of receiving over Shs 3.7 billion in consultancy fees from the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) Capacity Building Project, stating he was never an employee or direct consultant of URC. Source: https://observer.ug/news/engineer-thibenda-denies-receiving-shs-3-7bn-in-consultancy-fees-from-urc
Engineer Moris Thibenda has issued a strong denial against claims that he personally received more than Shs 3.7 billion related to the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) Capacity Building Project. In a letter dated August 4, 2026, addressed to relevant authorities, Thibenda clarified that he was an employee of the Spanish consultancy firm Consultrans S.A.U., which was contracted by URC.
The allegations surfaced during parliamentary committee proceedings investigating URC’s management, purportedly based on the Auditor General’s report. Reports suggested Thibenda, along with two others, shared Shs 25 billion allocated for the project and received approximately €864,000 (around Shs 3.7 billion) by falsely presenting himself as a foreign consultant and claiming non-existent travel.
Thibenda dismissed these claims as “false, misleading and without any factual basis,” stating they have caused him significant reputational damage and emotional distress. He explained that Consultrans assigned him as the infrastructure and project management key expert and that all his remuneration was managed by HR firms, not URC. He asserted that his salary records with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) can independently verify his earnings.
Furthermore, Thibenda denied any involvement in negotiating, approving, or managing the contract between URC and Consultrans, including payment schedules or procurement. His role, he emphasized, was strictly technical, providing services as an employee of Consultrans. He also refuted claims of being paid for unmade trips to Spain, noting he did travel there in November 2022 for a project-related benchmarking program.
URC management’s stance aligns with Thibenda’s, indicating that project funds were paid directly to Consultrans in Spain. URC stated the project was valued at €4.8 million (approximately Shs 20.84 billion), not Shs 25 billion, and that this amount covered operational costs and payments to both local and foreign personnel, including experts like Thibenda. Thibenda has requested Parliament to review and correct any inaccuracies regarding his involvement and to clarify his role as an employee of Consultrans, not a direct URC consultant.