Outcry in Namisindwa as Sh1.1B Road Project Stalls at 10% Completion Amid Claims of Mismanagement

Concerns are mounting in Namisindwa District after a monitoring visit on Wednesday morning by the Assistant Resident District Commissioner (ARDC) Bosco Nabogge revealed disturbing findings on the Sh1.1 billion Bumbo–Bumwali–Matua road rehabilitation project under the Oil Seed Project.

The 9.8km road, which was officially launched in February 2025 and given a six-month timeline for completion, is now at only 10% progress as of early May. Locals and officials are raising serious questions about the value for money and management of the project.

During the site visit, Nabonge discovered casual workers fixing visibly broken culverts around the Bumwalye bridge without proper equipment. Shockingly, workers revealed they had been instructed by the project engineer to manually crush stones with their hands instead of using machines — despite the project being funded to the tune of over one billion shillings.

“With Sh1.1 billion allocated, there’s no excuse for lack of machinery. There’s no visible value for money. If these practices continue, we risk wasting taxpayers’ funds,” the ARDC said, urging the engineers to use standard culverts instead of substandard “manhood” culverts that won’t last long.

He says several casual workers reported they had not been paid after completing their tasks, which has further slowed down the pace of work.

Wamundu John a resident of Bumwalye says fear the project may remain incomplete even after the six-month timeline lapses.

Masayi Peter, Chairperson of the Works and Technical Committee of the Council, voiced deep frustration, citing repeated instances of shoddy work on multiple roads. He blamed the concentration of responsibilities on a few individuals, including the Secretary for Works, who is also the Committee Chairperson and the District Chairman Mr. Jackson Wakweika.

Peter noted that while road funding increased from Sh400 million in the previous term to Sh1.4 billion this term, the ground reality does not reflect the financial commitment.

“We keep approving budgets with high hopes, but what we see is poor work. When we seek accountability, it’s always misinterpreted,” he said.

In response, District Chairman Jackson Wakweika briefly acknowledged that heavy rains had delayed progress but declined to provide further details.