A third-year Kyambogo University student has been found dead in a hostel room, the university has confirmed.
Joshua Cherop, a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities student attached to Kulubya Hall, was found dead in a room at the Sisters’ Hostel on Saturday.
According to the Dean of Students, Bridget Mugume, police recovered the body and took it to the city mortuary for a post-mortem examination to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.
The university has described the death as suicide, although police had not issued an independent statement on the matter by the time of reporting.
Cherop was from Rotin Village in Nyimei Parish, Kwani Sub County, Kween District, and was nearing completion of his university studies.
His death has renewed concerns about the mental health challenges faced by university students and the need for stronger support systems for learners dealing with personal and emotional difficulties.
When the last runner crossed the finish line at the fifth Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon, Kasese was only getting started.
After a day of endurance, determination and personal triumph, the town traded running shoes for dancing shoes as the Tusker Lite Neon Rave transformed Kasese into one giant celebration. With more than 8,000 runners turning up for the marathon and an even bigger crowd coming out to celebrate, Kasese was painted neon and turned all the way up.
The message was simple: the race may have ended, but the party had just begun.
The Tusker Lite Neon Rave lived up to its billing, bringing together an electric mix of music, color, entertainment and ice-cold drinks. Local stars from Kasese got the crowd going, setting the tone for a night that felt as much like a celebration of the town as it was the grand finale to one of Uganda’s biggest running events.
Then came the headliners.
Cindy Sanyu took the stage and sent the energy levels soaring, delivering the powerful vocals and commanding performance that have made her one of Uganda’s most loved entertainers. Hit after hit, the crowd sang along, jumped in the air and showed off their best dance moves.
Pallaso kept the momentum going, turning the rave into a full-blown party with a catalogue of crowd favorites that had thousands on their feet.
From the first beat to the final song, the atmosphere was impossible to ignore. Kasese had officially turned up the Lite.
And, of course, no Tusker Lite celebration would be complete without the drinks.
From a cold Tusker Lite in hand to the wider Uganda Breweries portfolio, guests had plenty to choose from throughout the night. Whether it was the refreshing taste of Tusker Lite or something more premium like Don Julio, the experience was designed to give revellers the perfect way to unwind after an unforgettable day.
For Sandra Againe, Tusker Lite Brand Manager, the Neon Rave has become an integral part of what makes the marathon experience unique.
“The Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon has always been about more than the race itself. The Neon Rave has become a signature part of the experience, giving runners, fans and the people of Kasese an opportunity to come together, celebrate and truly own their Lite. This fifth edition was particularly special to see, with thousands of people showing up, bringing incredible energy and making Kasese come alive. From the local talent to our headline acts, the music, the lights and, of course, a cold Tusker Lite in hand, it was a fitting celebration of an incredible day and a milestone fifth edition.”
But beyond the music, drinks and neon lights, the rave captured something bigger about the Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon.
For five years, the event has grown beyond a marathon. It has become an experience that brings together sport, entertainment, travel, culture and lifestyle, drawing thousands of people to Kasese and putting the beauty and vibrancy of the region firmly in the spotlight.
The marathon celebrates what people can achieve when they push themselves. The Neon Rave celebrates what happens when, after all that effort, you finally let go and enjoy the moment.
That is the spirit of Own Your Lite.
After months of training, kilometers on the road and the challenge of taking on the Rwenzori Marathon, runners, residents, visitors and music lovers all got their moment to simply have fun.
Some came to see their favorite artists. Others came to dance. Some came to celebrate finishing the race. And many simply came to be part of the experience.
Whatever brought them there, one thing was clear: Kasese was ready to celebrate.
KAMPALA — A financial management storm has hit Makerere University Holdings Limited (Makholdings) after the Auditor General flagged the handling of hundreds of millions of shillings collected by the Makerere Guest House.
According to the Uganda Government Auditor General’s report as of December 2025 on Makholdings’ Human Capital Development, the Guest House collected UGX457.62 million, but only UGX148.87 million was banked.
The report shows that UGX308.75 million was spent at source, contrary to the requirements of the Finance Management Manual.
The revelation raises questions about how cash generated by the university facility was handled and why such a substantial amount was used directly instead of being banked in accordance with the prescribed financial management procedures.
The Auditor General classified the audit opinion as unqualified, but the specific finding on the Guest House cash collections has nonetheless put the spotlight on compliance with financial controls at Makholdings.
The report also raises another procurement concern involving the purchase of printing materials.
According to the Auditor General, Makholdings used the direct procurement method to acquire printing materials worth UGX99.18 million without the necessary approvals and justification.
The procurement finding adds another layer to the concerns raised in the audit report, particularly regarding adherence to established procurement procedures when committing institutional funds.
The two findings centre on financial controls and procurement compliance, with the Auditor General pointing to deviations from established procedures in the management and use of public resources.
While the audit opinion itself was unqualified, the findings highlight weaknesses that management is expected to address to ensure that revenue collections are properly accounted for and procurement processes comply with the applicable rules.
The UGX308.75 million spent at source represents the bulk of the Guest House collections identified in the audit, while the UGX99.18 million printing procurement raises separate questions over the use of the direct procurement method without the required approvals and justification.
The Auditor General’s findings have therefore placed Makholdings’ cash-handling and procurement practices under scrutiny as public institutions face growing pressure to strengthen accountability and ensure that financial management procedures are followed to the letter.
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A major Government-backed programme aimed at strengthening Uganda’s capacity to operate and maintain the Karuma and Isimba hydropower plants has ended its original implementation period with Sh6.61 billion still unspent, forcing the project into a two-year no-cost extension.
The Hydropower Operations and Maintenance Excellence (HOME) Project, implemented by Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), had a total budget of Sh30.19 billion as of December 31, 2024.
By that date, Sh27.92 billion had been disbursed, representing a 92 per cent disbursement rate, while only Sh24.76 billion had been spent, translating into an 81 per cent absorption rate.
The remaining Sh6.61 billion, equivalent to US$1 million, is being held on the project account at Stanbic Bank Uganda and is expected to be utilised during the extension period running up to December 2026.
The project was originally scheduled to run from January 2020 to December 2024.
Funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the HOME programme is designed to build Uganda’s technical capacity to operate and maintain major hydropower assets, particularly Karuma, with a capacity of 600MW, and Isimba, with 183MW.
The programme is not primarily about constructing new power infrastructure. Its focus is on ensuring that the plants have the technical expertise, maintenance systems and professional asset-management practices needed to operate efficiently and safely.
Under the programme, international and local experts are deployed to support operations and maintenance frameworks, while UEGCL staff receive training in areas including advanced plant maintenance, risk identification and safety.
The broader objective is to build UEGCL into a professional and self-sustaining hydropower operator capable of managing its assets in line with international standards.
The unspent Sh6.61 billion now gives the programme another two years to complete its activities after the original project period ended.
The HOME programme is funded through a NOK84.4 million grant from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
With Karuma and Isimba forming a major part of Uganda’s electricity generation infrastructure, the programme’s performance carries significance beyond its financial figures.
The extension therefore provides UEGCL with additional time to deploy the remaining resources towards the intended technical and institutional improvements.
The key issue now is whether the additional two years will see the Sh6.61 billion balance fully and effectively utilised, while delivering the skills, maintenance systems and asset-management capacity the programme was established to create.
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A deepening financial crisis has engulfed the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC), the main lending arm of Government’s Local Economic Growth Support Project (LEGS), after revelations that Sh2.7 billion in project loans were disbursed under questionable conditions, alongside massive loan write-offs, weak recovery systems and a soaring default rate that now threatens the entire rural financing programme.
The developments place MSC Executive Director John Peter Mujuni and Board Chairperson Kiiza Aliba Emmanuel under intense scrutiny, as concerns grow over the institution’s ability to manage public funds under the Sh545 billion LEGS programme implemented by the Ministry of Local Government.
The LEGS programme, designed to support rural enterprises, SACCOs, agriculture, agro-processing and financial inclusion across 55 districts, is now facing credibility questions as its key financing channel struggles with financial instability.
SH2.7BN LEGS LOANS SPARK COMPLIANCE QUESTIONS
At the centre of the controversy is the disbursement of UGX.2.725 billion in LEGS-related loans to SACCOs that were not legally licensed.
According to the Auditor General, the loans were issued in violation of MSC’s own credit policy, which requires all borrowing SACCOs to hold valid operating licences from the Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority (UMRA).
“Loans amounting to UGX.2.725Bn were paid out to various SACCOs, however, these SACCOs did not possess valid operating licenses from UMRA contrary to the credit policy of the company,” the report states.
The finding raises serious concerns about due diligence, risk management and compliance within MSC’s LEGS lending operations, which are meant to support grassroots economic transformation.
Financial experts warn that such breaches expose public funds to avoidable risk and undermine the integrity of Government-backed credit programmes.
The loan controversy comes against the backdrop of a much larger financial crisis at MSC.
The 2025 Auditor General’s report reveals that the institution wrote off UGX.62.53 billion in loans, a move that significantly weakened its financial position and contributed to a reported loss of UGX.22.67 billion.
“The Company made loan write-offs worth UGX.62.53Bn in respect of receivables, and this affected the reported performance for the year, contributing to a loss of UGX.22.67Bn,” the report states.
The scale of the write-offs has raised alarm within financial oversight circles, with analysts questioning the sustainability of MSC’s lending model under LEGS and other Government programmes.
WEAK RECOVERY SYSTEMS EXPOSE BILLIONS AT RISK
Further findings show that MSC’s loan recovery performance is far below expectations.
Out of UGX.1.271 billion projected for recovery from written-off loans, the institution only managed to collect UGX.0.167 billion, leaving an under-collection of UGX.1.104 billion.
This poor recovery rate has intensified concerns that billions of shillings in public funds may remain permanently unrecovered.
DELAYED LOAN PROCESSING UNDER LEGS PROGRAMME
The Auditor General also flagged inefficiencies in loan processing under MSC’s operations.
Seventeen loans worth UGX.7.78 billion were found to have taken excessively long to process, with some applications exceeding one year before approval.
“17 loans worth UGX.7.78Bn disbursed during the year exceeded the maximum lead times prescribed and sometimes even took over a year to complete processing,” the report notes.
These delays are said to be affecting service delivery to SACCOs and rural enterprises that depend on timely access to credit under LEGS.
OUTDATED COLLATERAL VALUES INCREASE RISK EXPOSURE
The report further highlights that MSC relied on outdated collateral valuations for loans worth UGX.6.526 billion, with some valuations dating back nearly a decade.
Experts say this practice exposes the institution to significant financial risk, as collateral values may no longer reflect current market conditions.
NON-PERFORMING LOANS HIT CRITICAL 52%
Perhaps the most alarming revelation is the state of MSC’s loan portfolio.
As of June 2024, non-performing loans stood at 52%, equivalent to UGX.44.7 billion out of UGX.83 billion in outstanding conventional loans.
“A 52 percent default rate is not just high—it is catastrophic. It signals systemic failure in loan recovery and credit management,” a financial analyst warned.
UNDERUTILISED LEGS FUNDS AND FUNDING SHORTFALLS
The crisis is further compounded by underutilisation of funds intended for rural lending.
Out of UGX.44.7 billion planned for disbursement, only UGX.23.4 billion was actually lent out.
Under the Emyooga programme, UGX.120.996 billion was spent out of UGX.134.206 billion, leaving UGX.13.210 billion idle.
At the same time, MSC failed to meet its funding mobilisation targets, raising UGX.969.37 billion against a target of UGX.1.792 trillion, leaving a shortfall of UGX.823.48 billion.
Government support also fell short, with MSC receiving UGX.133.341 billion out of UGX.161.23 billion appropriated.
GOVERNANCE GAPS AND WEAK CLIENT PROTECTION
The Auditor General also flagged the absence of a client service charter, leaving borrowers without a formal framework outlining service standards and protections.
“The company does not have an approved client service charter that informs clients and stakeholders,” the report states.
Experts say this weakens accountability and transparency in MSC’s dealings with SACCOs and rural borrowers.
LEGS PROGRAMME UNDER THREAT
MSC is a key implementing partner under the LEGS programme, a Sh545 billion Government initiative targeting nearly 16 million Ugandans across 55 districts.
The programme is designed to boost agriculture, water access, agro-processing and financial inclusion in rural areas.
However, the financial instability at MSC now raises serious concerns about whether the institution can effectively support the programme’s expansion and deliver on its mandate.
LEADERSHIP UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY
As the findings accumulate, pressure is mounting on MSC leadership, particularly Executive Director John Peter Mujuni and Board Chairperson Kiiza Aliba Emmanuel, to account for the deepening financial crisis.
The combination of UGX.62.53 billion in write-offs, UGX.2.7 billion in questionable LEGS loans, weak recovery systems, outdated risk assessments and a 52% default rate has placed the institution at the centre of a major accountability storm.
A concerned observer summed up the situation:
“This is no longer just a financial issue. It is a trust crisis. And it is growing by the day.”
With billions in public funds at stake and rural livelihoods depending on MSC’s performance under LEGS, urgent reforms are now being demanded to restore confidence in Government-backed microfinance operations.
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Mountains of the Moon University (MMU) has come under the spotlight after the Auditor General raised a series of financial, administrative and academic concerns, including unrecorded land valued at Sh31.80 billion, employee arrears of Sh814.29 million and a Sh15.49 billion multi-year contract that was awarded without approval from Parliament.
The concerns are contained in the Auditor General’s report for the year ended December 2025, which points to weaknesses in the university’s human capital management, asset records, contracting, strategic planning, academic staffing, research and accreditation of programmes.
According to the audit, the university had accumulated employee arrears amounting to Sh814.29 million, of which Sh721.79 million related to prior years.
The Auditor General warned that the outstanding arrears exposed the university to the risk of litigation, raising concerns about the institution’s ability to meet its obligations to staff.
The audit also uncovered a major gap in the university’s asset management records involving land at Kyembogo.
Land comprised in Plot 11 Kyembogo, Block 79, valued at Sh31.80 billion, had not been recorded in the university’s asset register.
The omission means that an asset carrying a multibillion-shilling value was outside the university’s official asset register at the time of the audit, prompting the Auditor General to flag the matter.
The university was also found to have awarded a multi-year contract worth Sh15.49 billion without authority or approval from Parliament.
The audit finding raises questions about compliance with the required approval processes for major multi-year financial commitments.
SH64.54BN STRATEGIC PLAN FUNDING GAP
The Auditor General further found a significant funding gap in the implementation of the university’s Strategic Plan.
While the Strategic Plan had a cost estimate of Sh196 billion, actual funding over the implementation period amounted to only Sh131.46 billion.
This created a funding variance of Sh64.54 billion, equivalent to 32.9 per cent of the planned requirement.
The funding shortfall was reflected in the university’s ability to achieve the targets set under the Strategic Plan.
Out of 128 target outputs, only 35, representing 27.3 per cent, were fully achieved.
Another 40 outputs, representing 31.25 per cent, were only partially achieved, while 53 outputs, equivalent to 41.4 per cent, were not achieved at all.
The figures mean that less than a third of the university’s targeted outputs were fully delivered, while more than four in every 10 targets were not achieved during the period reviewed.
The audit also examined implementation against funded outputs.
It found that 35 outputs worth Sh7.51 billion were fully implemented, five outputs worth Sh305.41 million were partially implemented and four outputs worth Sh30.84 million were not implemented.
REVENUE TARGET MISSED
The university also fell short of its target for non-tax revenue collections.
It had budgeted to collect Sh5.90 billion in non-tax revenue during the year but managed to collect Sh5.66 billion.
The Auditor General reported the performance at 85.9 per cent.
On expenditure, the university received total warrants amounting to Sh42.11 billion during the financial year and spent Sh39.95 billion, representing an absorption level of 95 per cent.
Despite the relatively high absorption of the funds received, the audit raised wider concerns about the institution’s performance against planned outputs and strategic targets.
13 PROGRAMMES HAD NO STUDENTS
The university’s academic programmes also came under scrutiny.
The Auditor General found that 13 accredited programmes did not attract any student enrolment during the year.
At the same time, two programmes admitted a total of 54 students beyond the maximum limits approved by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
The findings raise questions about programme viability, student recruitment and compliance with approved enrolment limits.
The audit further found that the university had 532 approved teaching positions, but only 312 had been filled.
This left 225 positions vacant, representing 41.4 per cent of the approved teaching establishment.
The staffing gap comes at a time when universities are under increasing pressure to maintain teaching quality, conduct research and expand academic programmes.
RESEARCH PARTICIPATION LOW
The Auditor General also raised concerns over the participation of academic staff in research activities.
Across eight universities reviewed, the audit found low participation in research, with Makerere University and Mbarara University being the exceptions.
At Mountains of the Moon University, only 66 out of 139 academic staff had published research.
This represented 47 per cent participation, meaning more than half of the academic staff covered by the assessment had not published research.
The finding places further focus on the university’s research output and its capacity to meet the expectations associated with higher education institutions.
EXPIRED ACCREDITATION CONTROVERSY
Perhaps one of the most significant academic concerns was the continued admission of students to programmes whose accreditations had expired.
The Auditor General found that Mbarara, Busitema, Kabale, Muni, Mountains of the Moon, Lira and Soroti universities continued admitting students to 64 academic programmes with expired accreditations.
The audit attributed the situation to weak enforcement by NCHE and inadequate internal tracking systems within the affected universities.
The finding raises concerns about whether students were being admitted into programmes whose accreditation status had not been maintained in accordance with regulatory requirements.
For universities, accreditation is critical because it provides assurance that academic programmes meet required standards and that qualifications awarded to students are recognised within the regulatory framework.
At Mountains of the Moon University, the combination of vacant teaching positions, low research participation, programmes with no enrolment and continued admission to programmes with expired accreditation paints a picture of an institution facing significant academic and administrative challenges.
The financial findings add another layer to the concerns, with the Auditor General flagging Sh814.29 million in employee arrears, the unrecorded Sh31.80 billion Kyembogo land and the Sh15.49 billion multi-year contract awarded without Parliamentary approval.
The Strategic Plan performance also remains a major concern, with 53 of 128 target outputs not achieved and another 40 only partially achieved.
The audit findings therefore put MMU’s financial controls, asset management, staffing, academic planning, research performance and compliance with accreditation requirements firmly under scrutiny as the university continues its operations.
The findings contained in the Auditor General’s report are expected to require attention from the university management, its governing structures and relevant Government oversight institutions.
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The Ministry of Works and Transport is facing a damning audit spotlight after the Auditor General uncovered a mountain of unpaid obligations, delayed and abandoned road projects, compensation backlogs, weak contract controls, questionable procurement practices and serious failures in managing some of the country’s biggest transport infrastructure projects.
The findings contained in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ended December 2025 paint a troubling picture of a Ministry struggling to properly manage billions of shillings in public resources and deliver projects within agreed timelines.
At the centre of the concerns is the Ministry’s top bosses in management and Accounting Officer, who the Auditor General repeatedly directed to strengthen coordination, improve planning, ensure adequate funding, tighten contract management and prioritise settlement of outstanding obligations.
The audit found that the Ministry had payables amounting to Sh649.16 billion. Of this amount, Sh24.15 billion, representing four per cent, had remained outstanding for more than three years, while another Sh43.31 billion had been outstanding for more than one year.
The Auditor General warned that the unpaid obligations expose Government to litigation and penalty risks.
But the problem became even more complicated after the Ministry settled Sh793.93 billion in domestic arrears despite having budgeted only Sh10.83 billion for such obligations.
The huge settlement mainly comprised arrears transferred from the former Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), Uganda Road Fund (URF) and Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Project Affected Persons (PAPs) obligations.
The Auditor General said the situation undermined budget credibility and fiscal discipline.
SH500BN CONTRACTOR DEBT
Contractors working on roads were among those bearing the brunt of the Ministry’s financial management problems.
As at June 30, 2025, unpaid completed works on road projects stood at a staggering Sh500.347 billion.
Included in this amount was Sh73.991 billion in interest arising from delayed settlement of outstanding certificates.
The Auditor General attributed the arrears to inadequate budget provisions and failure to release funds to settle certified works.
The consequences, according to the audit, are severe.
Failure to settle the debts exposes Government to avoidable penalties and interest, while contractors may suspend road works, leading to deterioration of already completed works.
The Auditor General advised the Ministry’s Accounting Officer to engage the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury and prioritise settlement of the obligations.
The Ministry is also sitting on another Sh40.65 billion in delayed payment of Interim Payment Certificates to contractors.
The delay, the Auditor General warned, exposes Government to potential interest claims and affects contractors’ ability to deliver works on time.
28 ROADS DELAYED, 13 ABANDONED
The audit then turns the spotlight on the state of road projects across the country.
The Auditor General reviewed 67 road projects with a combined contract value of Sh10.625 trillion, US$400,043,710 and JPY5,519,324,131.
The findings were startling.
Twenty-eight projects worth Sh3.554 trillion experienced significant delays ranging from six months to more than three years.
Even more worrying, 13 road projects had been abandoned or suspended by contractors at the time of the audit.
Among the affected projects were Mityana–Mubende–Kyenjojo Road, Masindi–Biiso–Kabaale–Kiziranfumbi Road, Hohwa–Nyairongo–Kyarushesha–Butole Road, Busega–Mpigi Expressway, Najjanankumbi–Busabala Road, Munyonyo Spur Interchange and Service Roads, Ntungamo–Kabale–Katuna Road and Olwiyo–Pakwach Road.
The Auditor General attributed the delays mainly to inadequate contractor capacity, delayed payments that affected contractors’ cash flows, delays in granting rights of way and delayed compensation of Project Affected Persons.
But the delays have also come at a huge cost to taxpayers.
Government had paid at least US$17.695 million in commitment charges because delays in works also affected the uptake of loans.
The Auditor General warned that prolonged delays result in traffic inconvenience, loss of project time and increased project costs.
The Ministry’s Accounting Officer was advised to strengthen coordination with responsible stakeholders, particularly Parliament and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, to ensure adequate funding for road projects.
SH533BN PAP COMPENSATION MESS
The Ministry’s handling of Project Affected Persons also came under severe scrutiny.
The Auditor General reviewed compensation for four major Government projects — Bukasa Port, the SGR project, Tororo–Gulu Metre Gauge Railway and Gulu Logistics Hub.
A total of 19,082 PAPs had been assessed at Sh848.46 billion.
By June 30, 2025, only 11,315 PAPs, representing 59 per cent, had been paid Sh315.227 billion.
That left 7,767 PAPs, representing 41 per cent, still unpaid, with compensation amounting to Sh533.23 billion.
The backlog is particularly significant because delays in compensation prevent Government from acquiring the required right of way and can stall major infrastructure projects.
The Auditor General also found that 37,595 PAPs had been assessed at Sh1.163 trillion for seven donor-funded projects.
Although 30,998 PAPs, representing 82 per cent, had been paid Sh842.446 billion, 6,597 PAPs, representing 18 per cent, remained uncompensated, with claims worth Sh320.139 billion.
The audit attributed delayed compensation mainly to inadequate budgets.
SGR LAND STILL UNTITLED
The land problems do not end with unpaid compensation.
Of the 1,908.9 acres acquired for the SGR project, 506.9 acres remained without titles.
The Auditor General also found that the former UNRA had secured 8,263 land titles for projects.
However, 4,055 of those titles, representing 49 per cent, were yet to be subdivided to acquire the relevant land titles and return them to the Project Affected Persons.
The delays in titling, according to the audit, were mainly caused by lengthy and bureaucratic land expropriation and titling processes involving multiple Government institutions.
The consequences include exposure to encroachment and land disputes, reoccupation by already compensated PAPs, escalating compensation costs, project delays and possible financial loss to Government.
The Accounting Officer was advised to engage the Ministry of Finance for timely release of compensation funds and strengthen coordination with other Government agencies to fast-track land titling, evacuate reoccupying PAPs and promptly return remaining titles to their rightful owners.
SH15BN CONTRACTS WITHOUT CONFIRMED MONEY
The Auditor General also questioned the Ministry’s procurement planning and financial discipline.
Twelve procurements worth Sh7.31 billion were initiated and contracts awarded without confirmed funding.
The Ministry also failed to prepare multi-year procurement plans for 17 procurements worth Sh9.57 billion despite the contracts spanning more than one financial year.
Ten procurements worth Sh1.38 billion were not implemented as planned, delaying the delivery of goods, works and services contained in the approved procurement plan.
Contract management was also found wanting.
For three contracts worth Sh119.94 billion, there was no evidence of formal appointment of contract managers, contract management plans, monitoring reports or complete contract management files.
Another 13 contracts worth Sh9.16 billion experienced significant implementation delays, yet there were no approved extensions or enforcement of liquidated damages.
The Auditor General also found that 11 procurements worth Sh4.82 billion were implemented outside the electronic Government Procurement system, undermining efforts to promote transparency, accountability and efficiency in public procurement.
SH109.85BN SGS PAYOUT, ASSETS STILL NOT REGISTERED
The Ministry’s handling of the terminated Motor Vehicle Inspection Services concession has also raised questions.
By June 30, 2025, the Ministry had paid Sh109.85 billion to Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) following termination of the concession.
However, by November 2025, the assets acquired following the termination had still not been registered in the Ministry’s ownership.
The audit finding raises concerns over the Ministry’s asset management and its ability to properly account for assets acquired using public funds.
The Ministry’s broader asset records were also found wanting.
Thirty-nine Government vehicles used for road supervision still carried private number plates and were not recorded in the fixed assets register.
Buildings valued at Sh14.78 billion had also been constructed on land that was not legally owned by the Ministry, exposing Government to possible loss and ownership disputes.
The Auditor General further found that the Ministry’s assets register was incomplete and outdated, with generic descriptions, missing costs and no consolidated register covering all assets under the vote.
SH45BN EQUIPMENT NEED, ONLY SH7.1BN PROVIDED
The Ministry’s ability to maintain its equipment was also affected by inadequate funding.
Between financial years 2019/20 and 2024/25, only Sh7.10 billion was provided for equipment maintenance against a requirement of Sh45 billion.
The huge funding gap raises concerns about the Ministry’s ability to keep critical equipment operational and preserve Government’s infrastructure assets.
KAMPALA PORT PROJECT STUCK AT 44.91%
The long-awaited New Kampala Port at Bukasa is another major project caught in the Auditor General’s net.
A EUR50 million loan for the project was signed in 2016.
However, by November 2025, EUR12.83 million remained unutilised.
Start-up works had progressed to only 44.91 per cent by November 2025 despite the expiry of the original loan period.
The Auditor General attributed the delays to delayed procurement, land access challenges and unresolved Project Affected Persons issues.
The project’s slow progress means that millions of euros remain unutilised while the infrastructure project continues to struggle to move forward.
STRATEGIC PLAN UNDERFUNDED BY 44%
At the planning level, the Ministry’s 2020/21–2024/25 Strategic Plan was underfunded by 44 per cent.
The Auditor General said the funding gap limited implementation of planned interventions and achievement of strategic objectives.
The Ministry had also failed to finalise a Strategic Plan aligned to the Fourth National Development Plan by the time NDP IV commenced on July 1, 2025.
This resulted in delayed alignment of the Ministry’s activities with national priorities.
The National Planning Authority assessed the Ministry’s FY2024/25 budget compliance with NDP III at only 68.1 per cent, reflecting weaknesses in resource allocation, results-level indicators and project alignment.
Parliament had appropriated Sh4.28 trillion to the Ministry, of which Sh4.27 trillion, representing 99 per cent, was warranted.
However, there was still a shortfall of Sh8.80 billion affecting implementation of planned activities.
Several key activities were consequently only partially implemented or not implemented, including compensation of PAPs on the Tororo–Gulu railway, rehabilitation of the Tororo–Gulu line, procurement of Bailey bridges, development of the Bridge Management System and construction of tarmac roads in town councils.
NTR COLLECTIONS MISS BY SH106.75BN
The Ministry also failed to hit its non-tax revenue target.
It had projected to collect Sh343.13 billion but collected only Sh236.37 billion, representing 69 per cent performance.
The shortfall stood at Sh106.75 billion.
The audit attributed the revenue gap to reduced boda boda licence fees, inadequate staffing, suspension of the Express Penalty Scheme and multiple taxes on passenger motor vehicles.
NINE PROJECTS WORTH SH139.7BN AND EUR347.6M DELAYED
The Auditor General found that nine projects valued at Sh139.76 billion and EUR347.6 million experienced delays averaging about one year.
The delays denied beneficiaries timely access to services.
Major delayed projects included Kayunga–Nabuganyi Road, Nansana–Kireka–Bira Road, Kafunta–Buwampa Road, Kabaale International Airport and the New Kampala Port at Bukasa.
The causes cited included delayed payments, design changes, scope changes, funding gaps and weak contract management.
The Ministry was also faulted over the quality of works on one project valued at Sh8.41 billion.
The Auditor General observed incomplete drainage, unfinished culverts, overgrown road sections and abandonment of works.
The functionality of four completed projects valued at Sh3.87 billion was also affected by poor drainage, erosion, silting, lack of routine maintenance and design limitations.
WEIGHBRIDGE SYSTEM FAILS ROAD PROTECTION TEST
The Ministry’s management of the national weighbridge system was also found inadequate to sufficiently protect road assets and support safe and efficient transport.
The Auditor General identified gaps in the profiling and deployment of weighbridge stations, utilisation of weighbridge data, operational reliability and calibration of equipment, staffing, automation of controls, enforcement of axle-load limits and stakeholder engagement.
These weaknesses, the audit found, have constrained the system’s ability to deter overloading and preserve road assets.
PARLIAMENTARY ORDERS LEFT UNFINISHED
The Ministry also failed to fully implement Parliament’s recommendations.
Out of six recommendations reviewed by the Auditor General, only three had been fully implemented.
Two were partially implemented while one had not been implemented at all.
The Auditor General is separately conducting a comprehensive verification of domestic arrears across Government ministries, departments, agencies and local governments to establish the accurate stock of Government domestic arrears, with detailed findings expected separately.
The latest findings place the Ministry of Works and Transport’s management and Accounting Officer under intense scrutiny over the handling of public infrastructure, procurement, contracts, compensation, assets and billions of shillings in Government obligations.
The audit repeatedly recommends stronger coordination, better planning, adequate funding, tighter contract management and faster settlement of obligations — measures that ultimately fall on the Ministry’s leadership and responsible accounting structures to implement.
With roads delayed or abandoned, contractors owed hundreds of billions of shillings, thousands of PAPs still waiting for compensation, major projects struggling for years and critical assets poorly documented, the Auditor General’s findings expose a Ministry where weaknesses in planning, financing, coordination and contract management are translating into real costs for Government and delays for ordinary Ugandans.
The report therefore puts the Ministry’s leadership on the spot over whether it is adequately exercising the oversight, planning and management responsibilities required to ensure that billions allocated to Uganda’s transport infrastructure actually translate into completed projects and functioning public assets.
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BUYENDE- The Minister for the Presidency, Member of Parliament for Budiope West Constituency and Director for Busoga SDA Women field, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, has urged SDA church pastors to use their pulpits and platforms to preach and mobilise communities on Government wealth-creation initiatives as part of efforts to fight household poverty and accelerate national transformation.
The Minister made remarks at the closure ceremony of a nine-9-day Seventh-day Adventist Camp Retreat at Nkondo SDA Church Zone, Buyende District, which brought together hundreds of believers from across Buyende District.
Addressing the congregation, Hon. Babalanda conveyed greetings from H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, the Permanent Secretary Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, and the entire staff of the Office of the President.
She applauded the SDA Church leadership of Buyende District and believers for dedicating nine days to prayer, Bible study and fellowship.
The Minister said the NRM Government under H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has given Ugandans freedom of worship and recognises religious institutions as key partners in national development, unity and moral transformation.
“As the government pushes for transformation to upper middle-income status, faith must go hand in hand with work to meet the target of ending poverty and contributing to national development,” she said.
Minister Babalanda noted that the government has established several programmes like the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme, Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), GROW, and others, injecting a lot of money to defeat poverty.
“Our role is to ensure these resources are used with proper financial discipline and hard work to create wealth and jobs at the household level,” she emphasised.
The Minister urged believers to embrace the 4-Acre Model Concept championed by President Museveni to help rural families escape poverty. She broke it down as follows: Acre 1 Coffee, a long-term cash crop with stable income- Acre 2: Fruits – oranges, mangoes, cocoa – Acre 3: Food crops – maize, beans, cassava, sweet potatoes and vegetables for food security – Acre 4: Pasture for zero-grazing dairy cows.
She also urged them to adopt home-based projects like farming vegetables and poultry for eggs in the backyard, especially for SDA and Muslim communities and piggery for non-Muslims as per H.E the President’s guidance as the champion of wealth creation.
Minister Babalanda informed the congregation that this term, H.E. the President has tasked leaders and Ugandans with two things: fighting corruption and working hard. There must be “No Sleeping”.
“As Christians, our hands must work as much as our voices praise; that is how we shall defeat poverty,” she said.
In a show of support, the Minister contributed Shs 1.2 million towards the construction of the Church.
She concluded with a spiritual call, rallying them to stick to God so that the work of their hands can be blessed.
The SDA leadership thanked Minister Babalanda for her continued support of the church and for always standing with the people of Budiope West and the entire fraternity of SDA across Busoga.
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In early childhood, the foundational bond between parents and children dictates a lifetime of emotional stability. Today, this bond is heavily fractured. This week, I delve into the critical role parents must reclaim to restore our children’s moral fabric before it is too late.
From Kampala corporate couples trapped in gridlock traffic before dawn to parents migrating to the Middle East for labor, many children across the country are left to grow up in a moral vacuum. In rural areas—such as Tooro, Bugisu, Buganda, Acholi, and Busoga—young parents are abandoning their offspring on the doorsteps of elderly grandparents, relatives, or anyone willing to fend for them. Driven by unwanted teenage pregnancies, broken marriages, or labor migration, these parents disappear for years. Quite often, the burden falls entirely on frail, impoverished grandparents who lack the physical stamina and financial capacity to supervise or bond with the children.
Driven by extreme hunger and parental apathy, a number of children flee their villages entirely. This mass parental abandonment has caused a sharp influx of juvenile crime and street-connected children in urban centers like Kasese, Arua, Gulu, and Kampala (Daily Monitor, April 2026). Academic research by Walakira et al. (2021) explicitly connects parental warmth, support, and positive discipline to a child’s overall well-being. Without these anchors, young Ugandans turn to unsupervised smartphones and toxic peer groups in suburbs like Kisenyi or Kamwokya, adopting foreign behaviors and drug habits. This crisis extends far beyond individual households; it actively threatens our national progress under Uganda’s National Development Plan IV (NDP IV).
In some areas, many parents view children as economic tools rather than individuals requiring emotional nurturing. Instead of keeping them in school, parents deliberately push them into hazardous survival mechanisms to bring home money. Children are sent to burn charcoal, engage in local gold mining, ride boda bodas, or work as domestic servants in nearby towns. Similarly, the proliferation of cheap, unregulated local potent gins like malwa or waragi across rural trading centers has paralyzed parental responsibility (Mwanukula, 2022). Incapacitated by alcohol, some parents leave their children to starve, forage for food, and raise themselves.
Furthermore, the Uganda Police Force Report (2025) notes a highly disturbing trend where rural parents treat child abuse as a business opportunity, engaging in the illegal practice of “sorting”—accepting under-the-table cash settlements or livestock from perpetrators to remain quiet.
In conclusion, economic provision is no longer enough; emotional presence is mandatory as a bedrock for moral uprightness. Where parents are entirely indisposed, the wider Ugandan family structure must revive the traditional, protective roles of clan leaders, paternal aunts, paternal uncles, and grandparents. A strong family foundation is the only way to raise a new generation of disciplined, empathetic, and morally upright Ugandan citizens.
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