Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake has raised concerns over the quality of government-funded infrastructure projects in Arua and neighbouring districts, following an inspection of four bridges reportedly constructed under government assurances worth about UGX28 billion.
Zaake said the inspection was part of a field oversight exercise aimed at assessing the implementation and quality of public projects. He said the team had already visited four bridges on the first day of the exercise, where they encountered what he described as worrying signs of substandard workmanship.
According to the legislator, some of the projects had been declared complete despite concerns about their actual condition and the quality of work undertaken.
“What we’ve seen raises serious questions about substandard work on projects declared complete,” Zaake said in a statement, signalling that the findings would be subjected to further scrutiny.
The MP said the oversight exercise would seek to establish whether public funds allocated to the projects had been used appropriately and whether contractors had delivered work that meets the required standards.
His remarks are likely to intensify scrutiny of government-funded infrastructure projects, particularly those involving large sums of public money. Bridges and other transport infrastructure are critical to communities in northern Uganda, where poor road connectivity can affect access to markets, schools, health facilities and other essential services.
Zaake pledged to make the findings of the inspection public, saying the team would expose what it establishes during the exercise.
“We shall expose the facts,” he said, adding the Luganda phrase “Tugenda okwata agabbi,” which translates to a warning that those responsible for wrongdoing would be held accountable.
The inspection comes amid continued calls for stronger parliamentary oversight of public expenditure and infrastructure development. Legislators have increasingly faced pressure to verify whether projects presented as completed are delivering value to taxpayers.
Zaake did not provide details of the specific bridges inspected, the contractors involved or the nature and extent of the alleged defects. It was also not immediately clear whether the contractors or relevant government agencies had been given an opportunity to respond to the concerns.
The findings from the ongoing field exercise could therefore provide further details on the condition of the projects and whether any action will be recommended against those found responsible.