The Ministry of Works and Transport has confirmed that Allen Kagina, the former executive director of the now-defunct Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), did not express interest in joining the ministry following the merger of UNRA and the Uganda Road Fund into the ministry, unlike most of her former colleagues.
The disclosure was made by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Bageya Waiswa, during a session before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reviewing the 2024/25 Auditor General’s report.
The matter arose when Mawogola South Member of Parliament Gorreth Namugga sought clarity on the rationalisation process. “So, was the Executive Director also absorbed by the Ministry?” she asked.
Waiswa replied, “She did not show interest.” When Namugga probed why Kagina had not applied, Waiswa responded, “She knows herself.”
Namugga suggested that low public service salaries might have influenced Kagina and other staff members’ decisions. “The meagre pay and salary discrepancies make public service unattractive,” she said.
Ibanda North MP Xavier Kyooma argued that Kagina’s decision may have been personal rather than financial, citing the example of Eng Andrew Grace Naimanye, former Executive Director of the Uganda Road Fund, who accepted absorption into the Ministry.
PAC was informed that UNRA had a total staff of 1,380 before rationalisation. Of these, 1,254 employees—over 91% of the workforce—were absorbed into the Ministry, while 26 staff members did not express interest.
On terminal benefits, the Ministry reported that Shs 63.512 billion was allocated for former UNRA and Uganda Road Fund employees.
Of this, Shs 63.205 billion has been disbursed, Shs 306 million could not be processed due to incorrect accounts and names, and an additional Shs 5.2 billion is required to clear remaining dues.
Both Kagina and Naimanye left their executive positions after the dissolution of UNRA and the Uganda Road Fund, following the repeal of the Uganda Road Fund Act, 2008, and the Uganda National Roads Authority Act, 2006, and the passing of the Uganda Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Uganda National Roads Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
