At least 27 major road and bridge projects across Uganda have either stalled or been suspended due to a severe funding shortfall, Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala told Parliament on Wednesday, 30 July 2025.
In a statement on the state of Uganda’s road network, Gen. Katumba revealed that 18 government-funded projects and nine externally financed ones have suffered setbacks due to delayed payments and land acquisition challenges.
Projects affected include the Masindi-Biiso and Kabale-Kiziranfumbi oil roads, Kampala-Mpigi Expressway, and the Kampala-Jinja Highway.
The ministry cited a Shs2.472 trillion shortfall in the 2025/2026 financial year, with only Shs682 billion allocated out of the required Shs3.153 trillion.
Additionally, the government is carrying over Shs1.071 trillion in arrears from previous years, leading to interest penalties and mounting contractor claims.
Land compensation also remains a significant barrier, with Shs443 billion needed to enable project access. “This has grounded many donor-funded projects and exposed the country to reputational and financial risks,” Katumba warned.
Uganda’s road infrastructure is also deteriorating rapidly. Over 1,993 kilometers require urgent maintenance, while 260 kilometers are in need of full rehabilitation. Failure to act could triple the cost per kilometer and result in preventable losses of up to Shs180 billion.
Despite the urgency, Parliament could not proceed with debate as no ministers from the Ministry of Finance were present. Speaker Anita Among held Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua accountable, stating: “This is your role. We shall hold you responsible.”
The debate was deferred to Tuesday, 05 August 2025, as the nation awaits a financial intervention to avert a full-blown infrastructure crisis.
