President Yoweri Museveni’s decision to dismantle the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and fold it into the Ministry of Works and Transport is nothing short of a disastrous power grab. This reckless maneuver reflects Museveni’s dangerous incompetence and disregard for Uganda’s developmental progress.
UNRA has been a cornerstone of Uganda’s road infrastructure, responsible for constructing 3,686 km of new paved roads over the last 15 years. This isn’t a mere number but a critical element for a landlocked nation heavily reliant on its road network for economic survival. Museveni’s attempt to dismantle this pivotal agency, dismissing it as a wasteful relic bloated with engineers, reveals an alarming ignorance and sheer arrogance. His contempt for UNRA, a successful and essential body, reflects a broader pattern of undermining institutions that challenge his misguided agenda.
The claim that merging UNRA into the Ministry of Works will save UGX 39 billion in monthly wages is a deceitful smokescreen. Museveni’s assertion that this merger will streamline operations is a gross delusion. History shows that merging effective agencies into cumbersome bureaucracies often leads to chaos, inefficiency, and a loss of specialized expertise. UNRA’s meticulous and focused operations will be swallowed by the bureaucratic mire of the Ministry, leading to inevitable delays, rampant mismanagement, and a return to the inefficiencies that plagued Uganda’s infrastructure before UNRA’s inception.
The vehement opposition from Parliament only highlights the absurdity of Museveni’s scheme. Legislators, supported by comprehensive reports from the committee on physical infrastructure, argue that UNRA’s autonomy is crucial for maintaining high standards in road construction. The concern is not just about administrative inconvenience but a real threat of reverting to outdated, corrupt practices that plagued the sector before UNRA’s establishment. Museveni’s blatant dismissal of these concerns showcases his utter contempt for institutional successes and genuine developmental needs.
Moreover, Museveni’s disdain extends beyond UNRA to other successful agencies like the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS). His attacks on these agencies, despite their proven successes, reveal a disturbing pattern of undermining effective institutions to push his centralizing agenda. Museveni’s actions are less about genuine reform and more about consolidating power, often at the expense of proven efficacy and genuine progress. His relentless assault on these agencies reflects a broader agenda of dismantling successful entities to mask his own failures and consolidate control.
The failure to sign the merger bills and the resulting power struggles in Parliament expose a deeper malaise within Uganda’s political landscape. Museveni’s unilateral push for these mergers highlights a broader issue of prioritizing personal and political agendas over national interests. His fixation on dismantling successful agencies like UNRA is a prime example of his dangerous disregard for institutional knowledge and an unhealthy obsession with centralizing control. This power play is not about reform but about maintaining a stranglehold on power, often with disastrous consequences for the country’s development and stability.
Museveni’s reckless decision to dismantle UNRA epitomizes his dangerous and misguided approach to governance. His disdain for successful institutions and his obsessive drive for centralization will likely result in severe setbacks for Uganda’s infrastructure and overall development.
Discussion about this post