Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Francis Zaake has raised questions over the government’s handling of funds allocated for bridge projects, accusing two ministries of giving conflicting accounts on whether the money was released.
Zaake said the Ministry of Finance failed to appear before the parliamentary committee investigating the bridge projects, instead opting to submit its response in writing. According to the legislator, the ministry maintained that all funds meant for the bridges had been released.
However, Zaake said officials from the Ministry of Works and contractors involved in the projects had reported delays in receiving funding, creating a contradiction that the committee now intends to investigate.
“The Ministry of Finance failed to appear before our Committee today, opting for written submissions claiming all bridge funds were released. Yet Works and contractors cite delayed funding,” Zaake said.
The MP said the conflicting accounts raised questions about the management and disbursement of public funds earmarked for bridge construction and related works.
He said the committee would summon officials from both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Works, alongside contractors involved in the projects, to provide explanations and account for the funds.
“We will summon both Ministries and contractors to account,” Zaake said.
The committee is scrutinising government assurances and funding commitments relating to bridge projects estimated to be worth more than UGX 600 billion.
Zaake said the inquiry would seek to establish whether the allocated funds were fully released, when the disbursements were made and whether delays in funding contributed to stalled or delayed projects.
The investigation comes amid continued scrutiny of government expenditure and the implementation of major infrastructure projects.
Parliament has increasingly pressed government agencies to provide clear documentation on the utilisation and release of public funds.