Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure has summoned former Works and Transport Minister General Katumba Wamala, former Uganda National Roads Authority Executive Director Allen Kagina and other officials to explain the circumstances surrounding the introduction of road tolls.

The officials have been directed to appear before the committee tomorrow to respond to concerns raised over the road toll initiative and provide clarification on its implementation.

The summons were issued as the committee, chaired by Mbarara City South Division MP Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama, concluded inquiries into the Uganda Railways Corporation’s allocation of more than 4.8 million Euros for capacity building.

The committee heard that Uganda Railways Corporation received more than 28 million Euros from a loan secured from Spain, with a substantial portion of the funds allocated to capacity building under the railway rehabilitation project.

Of the 4.8 million Euros earmarked for capacity building, five expatriate consultants were reportedly paid 4.338 million Euros over a three-year period, with their monthly payments ranging between 20,500 and 32,500 Euros.

The committee also heard that Spanish firm Consultrans S.A.U signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Uganda Railways Corporation to undertake the capacity-building component of the wider project.

The project also covers rehabilitation of the Kampala-Mukono railway line and construction of a railway hub, among other works.

The committee will now turn its attention to the road toll programme, with the summoned officials expected to shed light on how the initiative was conceived, the decisions surrounding its implementation and concerns raised by legislators.

By Francis Lubega