Kagina will rid UNRA of den of thieves, says Museveni

Ms Allen Kagina

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Credited. The President says the former tax boss should be allowed to try the good work she did cleaning up URA.

HOIMA. President Museveni has spoken out on why he appointed Ms Allen Kagina to head a roads agency, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).
The President said UNRA had become a den of thieves and so the newly appointed executive director will right the wrongs at the authority.
“She is saved. She did good work at URA. Let us wait and see how she will perform,” Mr Museveni said.
Ms Kagina, who is lauded for reducing corruption at URA and repairing the image of the tax body, was appointed last week to the roads agency, a department with a big budget but often criticised for harbouring corrupt tendencies.
The President who was addressing people at a thanksgiving for First Deputy Prime Minister Henry Muganwa Kajura at Hoima Boma grounds in Hoima last Thursday, said the government will soon embark on construction of five major roads in Bunyoro sub-region.
“The funds for all the five roads are available and the issue of roads which you are complaining about will be sorted,” the President said.
He added that the all money to execute the infrastructural development projects in the region is available. He, however, accused officials at UNRA of being corrupt and delaying road construction projects.
Mr Kajura, one of the longest serving ministers in President Museveni’s government, was celebrating his re-appointment as First Deputy Premier and Public Service Minister in the March Cabinet reshuffle.
The President described Mr Kajura as a loyal and historical cadre, who participated in mobilising people to join NRM committees and has fought against sectarianism.
Mr Museveni asked the Finance minister, Mr Matia Kasaija, to brief the celebrants about the progress of infrastructural development programmes in Bunyoro region.
Mr Kasaija, who is also the Buyanja County (Kibaale) MP, said the construction of Kigumba-Masindi-Hoima-Kyenjojo road has been divided into sections, which will be constructed by different contractors.
He said there are also plans to tarmac the Mubende-Kakumiro-Kagadi road in Kibaale District. He added that government has secured funds from the African Development Bank to tarmac the Kigumba-Masindi-Bulima section.
He said construction delayed after funders questioned why the two companies that bided for the road were owned by one parent company.