Uganda: Committee on Govt Assurances riled by unfinished bridges in countryside

The Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation recently concluded a week-long oversight visit to assess the construction status of up to 30 bridges countrywide. During the inspection visits to the districts of Manafwa, Tororo, Madi-Okollo and Arua, the lawmakers discovered that construction works on several bridges, for example, in the West Nile sub region have stalled, despite the availability of funds. The committee, during the oversight visit from Monday, 17 to Friday, 21 August 2026, discovered that whereas Shs28 billion was allocated towards construction of Odrua, Alla and Osu bridges in Arua District, works have stalled since 2021. According to the committee, which was led by committee chairperson, Hon. Francis Zaake, the bridges which were scheduled to be completed by 2025 have stalled by non-compensation of project affected persons, exclusion of local authorities from the project planning, poor drainage systems, poor quality tarmac and silted river banks. “No compensation has been done. Ministry of Works and Transport promised to compensate people by 2024, but up to now the affected people do not know what do next,” said Zaake, aslo Mityana Municipality represent