AG queries compensations for Entebbe Highway

KAMPALA- Officials at the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) have said the consultant, Mott MacDonald, hired to manage property compensations for the Entebbe Express Highway construction will be held responsible for any financial losses arising from the project failure.

A sum of Shs150 billion was earmarked for the compensation of between 2000-4000 property owners, according to UNRA.

But the Auditor General, Mr John Muwanga, in his annual report has raised queries about the compensation.

He said because UNRA does not have its own valuer or surveyor to make input in the whole exercise, there is a risk that it “could be overvaluing or undervaluing the land,”
“Management depends only on the figures calculated by the consultant and expert advice of the Chief Government valuer is only given and considered,” the report reads in part.

Responding to the Auditor General’s queries, UNRA Corporate Communications Manager, Dan Alinange, said they have engineers but they work on several other projects so there was need to hire a consultant.

Officials at Mott MacDonald, an engineering and development consultancy, declined to comment saying they were bound by confidentiality agreements with UNRA.

The Auditor General says a review of the compensations for the Entebbe Express Highway project shows some beneficiaries were still holding titles of land for which they had been compensated.

But Mr Alinange said UNRA would address the issue.
UNRA said Shs50 billion has been paid out to 600 property owners to vacate for the construction corridor of the 51.4km dual carriageway expected to start from the Northern Bypass at Busega roundabout and end at Entebbe International Airport, with a turnoff to Munyoyo.

Works on the project undertaken by China Communication Construction Company is yet to start.
[email protected]