(Kampala) – Uganda’s Parliament has approved a new bill to dissolve the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and the Uganda Road Fund, with their roles now shifted back to the Ministry of Works and Transport. This change aims to streamline government services and reduce administrative costs by eliminating overlapping functions.
The Uganda Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Uganda National Roads Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024, were both passed on November 6, 2024, under the leadership of Speaker Anita Among. The approval of these bills repeals the previous laws that established UNRA and the Uganda Road Fund and puts into action the 2021 rationalisation policy, which is intended to minimise government expenses while ensuring quality service delivery.
Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, defended the decision, suggesting that the creation of these agencies may have weakened central government operations. He stated that with the rationalisation of these agencies, the ministry would be more accountable and efficient. “Now that government has woken up, you are going to hold us accountable, and we will deliver,” Katumba Wamala said.
Gen. Katumba Wamala also assured Parliament that employees from the dissolved agencies would be integrated into the ministry, protecting their employment status. He confirmed that those who choose to work under the new arrangement will not lose their jobs, saying, “We are not going to create unemployment; we will validate all workers of UNRA.”
Hon. Musa Ecweru, the State Minister for Works, emphasized that the government will maintain the functions previously managed by the agencies, particularly for local governments. District Road Committees that were initially created under the Uganda Road Fund will remain active to oversee road works across districts.
The Chairperson of the Physical Infrastructure Committee, Hon. Dan Atwijukire, presented the committee’s analysis, which urged the government to continue funding local road maintenance as previously done through the Uganda Road Fund. Atwijukire raised concerns about potential coordination challenges due to the spread of responsibilities across different government entities. The committee reported that the dissolution would save the government an estimated Shs3.8 billion in administrative costs and Shs2.6 billion in wages, while approximately Shs395 billion would be allocated to road maintenance under the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Atwijukire also highlighted the importance of minimizing disruptions to ongoing projects and called for the government to review existing contracts to avoid potential penalties. He noted that some contracts, such as the loan agreement with the African Development Bank for road projects like Laropi-Moyo-Afoji and Katuna-Muko-Kamuganguzi, have specific clauses binding UNRA as the implementing agency. Deviating from these contracts could lead to suspensions or penalties.
To ensure a smooth transition, the committee recommended a three-year transitional management period. This period will allow the Ministry of Works and Transport to gradually assume UNRA’s responsibilities while minimizing potential interruptions in road development and maintenance.
