Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure has called on government to take over the operations and maintenance of the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway and investigate alleged management and financial irregularities surrounding the road.
The recommendations were presented to Parliament on Tuesday by the committee chairperson, Hon. Mwine Mpaka, who said government management of the Expressway would reduce expenditure on private contractual arrangements and help safeguard revenue needed to repay the loan used to finance the project.
The committee raised concerns over the continued use of cash transactions, audit findings, contractor costs, procurement practices and public financial management, saying these issues had raised questions about whether the Expressway was being managed efficiently and generating sufficient revenue to repay its financing.
Among its key recommendations, the committee called for the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to take over toll collections and introduce an electronic payment system, with all proceeds deposited into an account dedicated to servicing the Expressway loan.
The committee also called for a forensic audit of the Expressway’s operations and revenue collections, including scrutiny of the reported Shs36 billion extension of a contract with Pinnacle Security Limited.
Mpaka further called for investigations into the former UNRA accounting officer and board over their alleged failure to exercise adequate oversight, as well as the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Transport who reportedly extended the Pinnacle Security contract for one year without approval from the Attorney General.
Several legislators backed the call for stronger oversight and digital toll collection. Gulu City Woman Representative Betty Aol Ochan said Uganda was losing revenue because of weak systems and excessive reliance on cash payments.
Rakai District MP Juliet Kyinyamatama supported the proposed forensic audit, saying Parliament should use its findings to inform decisions on the future management of the Expressway.
Meanwhile, Bukuya County MP Michael Bukenya called for the immediate suspension of the current operations while investigations are conducted.
Budadiri County East MP Julius Nakiyi urged Parliament to use the matter to demonstrate its commitment to fighting corruption and questioned whether the Expressway was generating sufficient revenue to recover its investment. He also called on URA to examine the operator’s tax compliance and recover any outstanding taxes.
However, Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi cautioned that before government takes over the Expressway, it should establish whether the Ministry of Works and Transport has the capacity to effectively manage its operations.
The debate followed a request by Works Minister Fred Byamukama for more time to study the committee’s report, which was supported by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth proposed the establishment of a working group to examine the recommendations, but Mpaka argued that Parliament should directly consider the committee’s proposals.
The Speaker subsequently ruled that the recommendations will be considered by the whole House on Thursday, August 27, 2026.
