Land Acquisition Delays Hamper Uganda's Road Projects

Numerous road construction projects across Uganda are experiencing substantial setbacks, attributed mainly to the protracted process of land acquisition and a lack of adequate counterpart funding. Barbara Mugambe, the Undersecretary for Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Works and Transport, highlighted these challenges during a recent interface with the Committee on National Economy.

Mugambe explained that the ministry is now strategically borrowing funds for civil works and land acquisition separately to address these shortages. This approach is being applied to projects like the 127km Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Mukungu road and sections of Jinja City roads.

Several critical road projects, including the Busega-Mpigi Expressway and the Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Puranga road, have been hampered by delayed land acquisition. These delays stem from inadequate budget allocations and ongoing ownership disputes over the land needed for construction. Similarly, the Kampala-Jinja Expressway Project has compensated only a fraction of the affected persons, with a significant financial balance still outstanding.

The Bukasa Port Development Project is also facing a challenge, as project-affected individuals have not vacated the site, awaiting resettlement land promised by the President. Committee members expressed frustration over the ministry’s tendency to seek financing before critical prerequisites like land acquisition are resolved.

Concerns were also raised about abandoned road works and the longevity of newly developed roads, with questions about the effectiveness of weighbridges in managing heavy cargo traffic. The Ministry’s Commissioner for National Roads, Eng. Isaac Wani, noted that design reviews can impact project timelines and that externally funded projects often do not prioritize local contractors, unlike government-funded ones.

Regarding abandoned projects, Wani clarified that these are being addressed through supplementary funding, with payments to contractors now resolved, allowing works to resume.

Source: https://www.howwe.ug/news/national/43557/delayed-land-acquisition-stalling-road-works