Kampala, Uganda – The Ministry of Works and Transport has announced plans to retain essential staff from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and the Uganda Road Fund (URF) on three-month local contracts. This decision follows the recent dissolution of both agencies and the integration of their functions into the Ministry as part of a broader government initiative aimed at rationalizing public expenditure.
In a statement, the Ministry clarified that critical personnel, particularly those involved in managing weighbridge operations, ferry services, and ongoing projects, will be retained to ensure continuity of essential services during this transition period. “All staff members handling essential and critical services like weighbridge operations, ferry services, and ongoing projects will be retained on local contracts for three months,” the statement emphasized.
Gen. Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport, confirmed that letters notifying the dissolution of UNRA and URF have been sent to their respective board chairpersons, members, and staff. The official handover of assets and liabilities is currently underway and is expected to be completed by December 30, 2024. The Ministry also stated that verification for terminal benefits is ongoing, with payments to be processed upon completion.
The restructuring is part of the Rationalization of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) policy aimed at reducing redundancy and optimizing public spending. Despite initial resistance from Parliament regarding the mainstreaming of UNRA into the Ministry, lawmakers eventually passed the Uganda National Roads Authority Act (Repeal) Bill 2024, leading to this significant organizational shift.