Finance State Minister Henry Musasizi once again stood before Parliament, armed with yet another proposal for more borrowing—this time to the tune of $15.22 million from the African Development Bank and a cool $73.1 million from the African Development Fund. If you are thinking, “Wait, wasn’t there a similar loan not too long ago?”—you’re not alone.
Minister Musasizi, who represents Rubanda East, didn’t waste time getting down to business. The money, he explained, was for the construction of the Katuna-Muko-Kamuganguzi road (104 kilometers) and the Laropi-Moyo-Afogi road (37 kilometers). The idea is to improve connectivity, boost economic activity, and foster regional integration between Uganda, South Sudan, and Rwanda.
Before Musasizi could finish his sales pitch for the loans, up stood Dr. George Didi Boka, the legislator from Obongi County, with a question that was on everyone’s mind. In a tone that many Ugandans would recognize from when you’re asking your boda guy why he’s charging double, Dr. Boka wanted to know, “Eh! But didn’t we just approve $252 million last year for this same project?”
Back in December 2023, Parliament approved a hefty $252 million from the African Development Bank for the exact same roads. Now Boka wasn’t saying the government doesn’t need more money for infrastructure, but he did have a point—before dipping into the loan pot again, wouldn’t it be nice to know where the last stash of cash went?
Not one to be caught flat footed, Musasizi quickly reassured the good doctor—and the rest of Uganda—that everything was fine, and yes, the new request for loans was indeed necessary. The previous $252 million? Well, it wasn’t enough, you see. The detailed designs weren’t finalized when that was approved, and now that engineers have had a closer look, it turns out more money is needed to actually start the projects. That’s right, we haven’t even broken ground yet.
In true Ugandan fashion, Musasizi put it plainly: “We cannot procure a contractor until we are sure that the money we have is enough.” Sounds like when you want to start building your house but don’t even have enough for the first brick.
For anyone who has driven on the Katuna-Muko-Kamuganguzi road, you’ll know it’s a gravel path more suited for a scene out of Mad Max Fury Road than an actual functioning road. Narrow, worn out, and with drainage that seems to only exist in theory, it serves a very rich agricultural region and also links some of Uganda’s most visited tourist attractions, including Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. In short, it’s a road that’s critical to both locals and tourists—but one that has been in a state of disrepair for what feels like ages.
Musasizi, not to be outdone by Dr. Boka’s skepticism, reminded Parliament that he had promised to inspect the road earlier this year. Apparently, it’s not just potholes that are the problem; landslides have actually cut off some sections of the road entirely. To add salt to the wound, his colleague, Rubanda West’s Moses Kamuntu, chimed in to highlight how even Bufundi sub-county has been completely abandoned by UNRA (Uganda National Roads Authority). Kamuntu had to take the scenic route—100 kilometers instead of 10—to reach Kashasi. You know things are bad when locals would rather swim across Lake Bunyonyi than drive on the road.
Kamuntu also pointed out the absurdity of leaving gorilla tourism roads in Rubanda West in such terrible condition. After all, these gorillas are probably Uganda’s most valuable residents, bringing in big bucks from tourists every year. But it seems the government has its priorities elsewhere.
Despite the clear frustration in the air, Musasizi stuck to his guns. The money was coming, and eventually, the contractors too. Until then, residents of Kabale, Rubanda, and Moyo will have to keep navigating the labyrinth of potholes, landslides, and detours, waiting for the day when a new road finally arrives.
Table: Uganda’s Borrowing for Roads—The Numbers So Far
| Year | Loan Amount (USD) | Project | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $252 million | Katuna-Muko-Kamuganguzi/Laropi-Moyo | Pending |
| 2024 | $88.32 million | Additional funding for the same roads | Requested |
