STEVEN ARIONG: Mr President, Help and Save the Ministry of Works from Weevils Taking Advantage of Being Close to You — The Ankole Times

As a concerned Bazukulu and citizen of Uganda, I will not get tired of using all available means to advance my concerns as a Ugandan citizen. I am appealing to our Jaja, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, to intervene in the Ministry of Works and Transport and, where possible, overhaul the entire ministry and bring in fresh, highly technical people, since it is one of the most technically demanding ministries in the country. Mr President, in my own opinion as one of your Bazukulu, what is happening in the Ministry of Works and Transport has turned into lamentations, counter-accusations and verbal outbursts about corruption, without a single piece of evidence being presented to justify some of these allegations. In fact, the Ministry of Works risks becoming one of the worst-performing ministries in the country because the minister and some technical officials, including Mr Isaac Wani, appear to be spending valuable time trading accusations against sections of staff instead of demonstrating what they are capable of delivering. There is no need for endless warnings and accusations when Uganda's roads urgently need to be worked on. Instead, the ministry should be focusing its energy on fixing roads and improving transport infrastructure. The current situation is also creating the impression that some officials are taking advantage of the absence of the Permanent Secretary to shift blame and conceal their own shortcomings. Personally, I have not seen many new roads being worked on under Minister Byamukama's administration, apart from projects involving roads that were already under previous administrations, including those associated with former Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala and the former Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). Having failed to present sufficient evidence to pin certain officials, there are concerns that the team led by Mr Isaac Wani could be working around the clock to manufacture allegations and even drag our 'Bad Man', Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, into matters involving officials allegedly associated with Mr Rwabogo. Ugandans need services, not officials running up and down with baseless allegations and counter-accusations. If there are genuine cases of corruption or misconduct, the responsible authorities should investigate them and present credible evidence. But the Ministry of Works should not become a centre of endless accusations at the expense of service delivery. Mr President, this ministry is too important to be allowed to lose focus. Uganda needs good roads, efficient transport infrastructure and technically competent people who can deliver results. I therefore appeal to you to take a close look at the Ministry of Works and Transport, identify the weaknesses within its leadership and technical structures, and take whatever action is necessary to restore confidence, accountability and effective service delivery. The writer is a senior veteran journalist.