Bulambuli – While monitoring and assessing the progress of Government projects, the Member of Parliament for Bulambuli County, Hon. Biara Emmanuel Wepukhulu, has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into a controversial infrastructure project, accusing officials of misusing public funds.
Hon. Wepukhulu expressed outrage over the allocation of 504 million shillings that was specifically budgeted for the construction of a permanent bridge, but which instead resulted in the building of a modest box culvert.
Instead, contractors delivered a box culvert – a simpler and significantly less expensive drainage structure typically used for smaller waterways. Critics argue the culvert does not offer the same capacity, longevity, or flood resilience that a full bridge would have provided, raising concerns about value for money and possible corruption or negligence in the tendering and supervision process.
Hon. Wepukhulu questioned how such a large sum could be spent on what he described as a “grossly inadequate” alternative. He called on the relevant ministries, anti-corruption bodies, and parliamentary oversight committees to swing into action without delay.
“This money belongs to the taxpayers,” he added. “If officials can allocate funds for a bridge and deliver something entirely different, then we have a serious governance problem that must be addressed at the highest levels.”
As of now, no official response has been issued by the ministry or agency responsible for the project. Local residents have mixed reactions: some welcome the partial improvement the culvert offers, while others echo the MP’s concerns about durability and the apparent downgrade from the promised bridge.
This latest development adds to a growing list of public infrastructure controversies in the country, where questions about project execution, cost overruns, and quality of work frequently dominate public discourse. Political observers say Hon. Wepukhulu’s public stance could put pressure on authorities to act swiftly to restore public confidence.
The call for investigation comes amid broader demands for transparency in the use of public funds for development projects. Watchers will be keenly following whether this case leads to concrete action, including possible recoveries of funds or disciplinary measures against implicated officials.
“This is not what the people were promised, and it is certainly not what the funds were approved for,” the MP stated during the television interview. “We demand a full forensic audit of this project. Those responsible for this apparent misappropriation must be held accountable. The people of this constituency deserve proper infrastructure, not substandard work that fails to meet the original specifications.”
The project in question was intended to provide a durable crossing over a major waterway or seasonal river, improving connectivity, safety, and economic activity in the region. Residents and local leaders had long advocated for a permanent bridge to replace an unreliable or aging structure that often became impassable during heavy rains.Instead, contractors delivered a box culvert – a simpler and significantly less expensive drainage structure typically used for smaller waterways. Critics argue the culvert does not offer the same capacity, longevity, or flood resilience that a full bridge would have provided, raising concerns about value for money and possible corruption or negligence in the tendering and supervision process.
Hon. Wepukhulu questioned how such a large sum could be spent on what he described as a “grossly inadequate” alternative. He called on the relevant ministries, anti-corruption bodies, and parliamentary oversight committees to swing into action without delay.
“This money belongs to the taxpayers,” he added. “If officials can allocate funds for a bridge and deliver something entirely different, then we have a serious governance problem that must be addressed at the highest levels.”
As of now, no official response has been issued by the ministry or agency responsible for the project. Local residents have mixed reactions: some welcome the partial improvement the culvert offers, while others echo the MP’s concerns about durability and the apparent downgrade from the promised bridge.
This latest development adds to a growing list of public infrastructure controversies in the country, where questions about project execution, cost overruns, and quality of work frequently dominate public discourse. Political observers say Hon. Wepukhulu’s public stance could put pressure on authorities to act swiftly to restore public confidence.
The call for investigation comes amid broader demands for transparency in the use of public funds for development projects. Watchers will be keenly following whether this case leads to concrete action, including possible recoveries of funds or disciplinary measures against implicated officials.
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