Buyende chairpersion Sharif Mangaraine cracks down on substandard road works as district leadership demands for accountability
The district chairperson also criticized the practice of commissioning projects that have not been completed, saying the drive to exhaust funds before the end of the financial year should never take precedence over quality service delivery.
Frustration over poor-quality infrastructure projects in Buyende District has sparked a fresh crackdown on substandard road works, with district leaders warning technocrats and contractors that shoddy workmanship and incomplete projects will no longer be tolerated.
At a review meeting with the district technical planning team at the district headquarters, Buyende District Chairperson Sharif Mangaraine raised concerns about the quality of work on the Nakabira–Ndalike–Bugaya road, saying poor supervision and rushed implementation had undermined service delivery and wasted public resources.
According to Mangaraine, several sections of the road show evidence of incomplete work, including piles of murram left along the roadside, inadequate road shaping, lack of bush clearing, and insufficient compaction.
“Certain sections of these roads exhibit the presence of discarded murram. Compounding the issue, the roads have been constructed without proper shaping and bush clearing, resulting in minimal spreading without adequate compaction. This situation is indeed concerning and disheartening,” Mangaraine said.
The district chairperson also criticized the practice of commissioning projects that have not been completed, saying the drive to exhaust funds before the end of the financial year should never take precedence over quality service delivery.
“The practice of commissioning incomplete projects and depleting funds from district coffers prior to the conclusion of the fiscal period is increasingly concerning. It is better to return the funds than allow them to be misused,” he said.
Mangaraine noted that many swamp crossings in the district remain impassable and in some cases have not received even basic spot murraming, despite the allocation of resources to road maintenance.
He revealed that he had given responsible officers a two-week ultimatum to rectify the identified shortcomings, but no meaningful action had been taken.
“The two-week grace period I provided has elapsed, and no action has been taken to address the matter, which appears to be attributable to insufficient supervision,” he added.
RDC Pledges Support and Calls for Teamwork
Buyende Resident District Commissioner Paul Kalikwani said his office would continue to support the lawful implementation of government programmes, monitor service delivery, and promote peace, security, and coordination across the district.
“The office will continue to support lawful implementation of government programmes, monitor service delivery, and promote peace, security and coordination across the district,” Kalikwani said.
The RDC urged district leaders, including the LCV chairperson and the district’s Members of Parliament, to work together in the interest of residents, arguing that better coordination would translate into improved service delivery.
He also emphasized the need for leaders to communicate project details to communities before implementation, saying transparency about project allocations, locations, and beneficiaries is essential for building public trust and enabling community oversight.
Warning to Contractors
Kalikwani warned contractors and officials linked to poor-quality work to prepare for tougher action from the government, noting that local government authorities were increasingly focused on enforcing accountability.
Buyende Chief Administrative Officer Geoffrey Nkurunziza echoed the call for accountability, saying the district administration was prepared to take firm action against those implicated in substandard works.
“This time round we’re ready for action, and those implicated will be taken head-on without any compromise,” Nkurunziza said.
The developments reflect growing pressure on local governments across Uganda to improve oversight of infrastructure projects amid public concerns over poor road conditions despite significant investments in road maintenance and construction.
For residents of Buyende, the message from district leaders was clear: public funds must translate into quality roads, not unfinished projects.
