President Yoweri Museveni has ordered sweeping investigations into the implementation of the Busega–Mpigi Expressway project, suspending three senior engineers and directing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport to step aside as government examines allegations of corruption and inflated project costs.

In a directive dated June 26 and addressed to Inspector General of Government Justice Aisha Naluzze Batoro, the President instructed that engineers Edwin Raymond Kiyaga, Dickens Ahimbisibwe and Patrick Muleme be suspended from duty pending investigations.

The directive also requires Permanent Secretary Waiswa Bageya to proceed on leave while the inquiry is underway. Under Secretary Barbara Namugambe has been appointed to serve as acting Permanent Secretary during the investigation.

The President raised concerns after learning that the government had fully utilized approximately Shs600 billion borrowed from the African Development Bank for the expressway, yet only about 40 percent of the construction had reportedly been completed.

Museveni questioned how the entire loan could have been spent without the project reaching completion, saying the situation demanded immediate accountability.

He also alleged that some officials altered the original road alignment after the initial route had already been surveyed and compensated.

According to the President, the changes forced government to undertake fresh land acquisitions and compensation, significantly increasing the overall project cost.

The project, initially estimated at around Shs600 billion, is now valued at approximately Shs1.3 trillion, a development Museveni described as unacceptable and one that warrants thorough investigations.

The Inspectorate of Government has been tasked with leading the inquiry, supported by State House Auditor General John Tumwiine.

The latest directive comes only weeks after Deputy Inspector General of Government Anna Twinomugisha Muhairwe visited the project site alongside officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport to assess concerns over delays, allegations that the contractor had abandoned the works, and questions surrounding value for money.

Following that inspection, Muhairwe indicated that ministry officials had provided explanations that largely addressed some of the concerns, although she warned about illegal developments within the road corridor and possible irregularities in compensation processes.

The Ministry of Works has maintained that the project’s revised budget reflects additional financing secured after construction slowed because of funding shortages.

Officials say the African Development Bank approved an extra €217 million in late 2025 to enable completion of the expressway, bringing the total financing for the project to roughly Shs1.3 trillion.

The government’s latest action signals a renewed effort to strengthen accountability in public infrastructure projects as Uganda continues to seek international financing for major transport and development programmes.