Veteran journalist Steven Ariong has defended former Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Executive Director Allen Kagina, calling for fairness and due process amid allegations that have recently emerged against former engineers who served under her leadership. Ariong argues that Kagina's record at both the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and UNRA speaks for itself, saying she was appointed by President Yoweri Museveni because of her reputation for discipline, integrity and delivering results. According to him, Kagina transformed URA before being entrusted with leading UNRA, where she assembled what he described as a competent team of engineers drawn from different regions of the country, including Central, West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Busoga, Bugisu, Teso and Karamoja. He credits the team with overseeing the expansion and improvement of Uganda's road network during their tenure. However, Ariong claims that recent accusations against some of the engineers are politically motivated and aimed at damaging Kagina's legacy rather than addressing genuine concerns about the road sector. He questioned why previous ministers and officials responsible for supervising road projects did not raise similar concerns if there had indeed been widespread incompetence or misconduct. 'Is it possible that all the ministers and officials who previously oversaw the Ministry of Works failed to notice these issues, or are these accusations being driven by malice and personal interests?' Ariong asked. While acknowledging that no administration is without challenges, he said branding former engineers as incompetent or corrupt without giving them an opportunity to defend themselves would be unfair. Ariong appealed to President Museveni to personally meet Kagina and the engineers who served under her leadership so they can present their side of the story before any conclusions are reached. He further questioned the credibility of some individuals behind the allegations, claiming that one of the key figures leading the campaign has previously been associated with controversial political disputes and legal battles. According to Ariong, leaders should be cautious when acting on allegations from individuals whose own records have been questioned. He concluded by urging authorities to ensure that investigations are conducted fairly and impartially, with all parties given an opportunity to respond before any judgments are made. The views expressed in this article are those of the writer, Steven Ariong, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.