We are not aware of 'eating' Shs24b for Isimba Bridge - Energy minister replies Kadaga

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Eng. Irene Muloni has angrily dismissed recent allegations that the ministry’s officials have swindled Shs24 billion meant for the construction of Isimba public bridge and access roads connecting Kayunga and Kamuli districts.

“We are not aware of the Shs24 billion meant for the Isimba Bridge that was allegedly eaten,” Eng. Muloni on Tuesday told journalists in Kampala at the government- owned Uganda Media Centre.

On November 13, 2019, Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga told MPs during the plenary that despite forwarding the names of the officials who allegedly stole the Shs24 billion to President Yoweri Museveni in March this year, no response or action has come from the Office of the President.

The bridge was meant to run from Kayunga to Kuva Island and another from Kuva Island to the Kamuli side. However, to date, the bridge has never been constructed although the dam was completed.

“By the way, at some stage, Shs24 billion had been chewed, Shs24 billion for that bridge had been eaten… I have been following that matter for several months, the money was eaten in the Ministry of Energy, Shs24 billion …I have written to the president. I gave him the names of the ‘eaters’. I have been waiting since March. I have not seen any action,” said Kadaga.

According to Muloni, the road designed by the contractor on top of the dam was found unsuitable for public use because the contractor had provided only one lane instead of two lanes as specified in the contract. Therefore, she said, government directed the contractor to construct a separate public bridge with two lanes as specified in the contract.

“As at 31 October 2019, the overall progress of works is approximately 20 per cent. The remaining 80 per cent is to be completed by 31 December 2020,” she said of the project that was approved in July 2019 by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).

She assured the public that the construction of the bridge and access roads is progressing well and anybody who wishes to see the ongoing works is welcome to visit the project site for a guided tour.