The Shs14 billion construction of Masaka City headquarters has come under fresh scrutiny after the Minister of State for Local Government, Justine Nameere Nsubuga, questioned the competence of the project engineer, the construction methods and why work reportedly continued despite a directive to halt construction.
During an inspection tour on Tuesday, Nameere expressed concern that construction was ongoing despite an earlier stoppage directive, raising questions about compliance with ministry instructions and the supervision of the project under Mayor Florence Namayanja’s administration.
She questioned the use of manual excavation on a major public infrastructure project and demanded an explanation from the technical team on the methods being employed.
“I am surprised that construction is ongoing yet we stopped them. The engineers and Town Clerk are questionable,” Nameere said.
The Minister also put project engineer Musa Mukiibi on the spot, asking him to explain his academic qualifications and professional experience and whether he had the requisite expertise to supervise a project of such magnitude.
Mukiibi reportedly told the Minister that he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Kyambogo University, graduating in December 2023. He also cited experience in highway works, road construction and other civil engineering assignments.
His relatively recent graduation raised questions about his experience and capacity to oversee a multibillion-shilling public project. However, his academic background alone does not establish professional incompetence. His professional registration, practical experience, contractual responsibilities and the capacity of the wider supervision team remain important considerations.
Nameere also questioned the project’s progress, saying construction had stalled, with works reportedly halted on September 2.
The apparent disregard of the stoppage directive, if confirmed, raises questions about who authorised the continuation of construction, whether the contractor was formally notified and what measures were taken to enforce the suspension.
The Ministry and Masaka City authorities must also explain the circumstances surrounding the stoppage, including whether it arose from technical concerns, contractual disagreements, procurement irregularities or other administrative issues.
Shs14m allegation sparks fresh controversy
The Minister’s inspection also exposed a disagreement between her and Mayor Namayanja, with Nameere making a controversial allegation that the Mayor had persistently demanded Shs14 million.
“Namayanja is loudly up and always ranting to be given Shs14 million,” Nameere said.
However, the Minister did not clearly identify who was expected to provide the money, who was supposed to receive it or what the alleged Shs14 million was intended to facilitate.
It also remains unclear whether the alleged demand was connected to the construction project, a payment dispute or another administrative matter.
The Shs14 million allegation should be distinguished from the Shs14 billion estimated cost of the headquarters project. The two figures concern different amounts, and there is no established evidence that the alleged Shs14 million formed part of the project’s contract sum or expenditure.
Nameere’s remarks therefore raise questions that require clarification from both the Minister and the Mayor. Namayanja should be given an opportunity to explain whether she requested the money, its intended purpose and the circumstances surrounding the alleged demand.
The Minister further alleged that the Mayor had failed to make herself available for a meeting concerning the project. She also indicated that the Town Clerk had advised that construction be stopped, pointing to possible disagreements within the city’s political and technical leadership over the management of the works.
The Town Clerk should clarify the reasons for recommending the suspension, while the Mayor should explain the city’s position on the project’s implementation and the reported failure to meet with the Minister.
Value-for-money concerns
The controversy comes amid wider concerns raised by the Ministry of Local Government over the cost and quality of district and city headquarters projects.
In September 2026, Nameere challenged Masaka City’s political and technical leadership to improve service delivery and ensure public officials were accountable and results-oriented.
The Minister has also questioned bills of quantities for other local government headquarters projects, citing proposed costs of Shs19 billion, Shs14 billion, Shs10 billion and Shs18 billion.
She has argued that some local government headquarters have been completed and made operational at considerably lower costs, raising concerns about whether taxpayers are getting value for money from the more expensive projects.
However, meaningful comparisons require an examination of the buildings’ designs, sizes, specifications, location, construction materials and associated infrastructure.
For Masaka City, the critical question is whether the Shs14 billion contract represents value for money and whether the works are being executed in accordance with approved designs, procurement requirements and professional construction standards.
The city administration should account for the contract sum, approved bills of quantities, procurement records, construction programme, inspection reports and any variations introduced during implementation.
It should also explain the current financial position of the project, the expected completion date and whether the reported suspension has affected the contract price.
The Ministry, meanwhile, should clarify whether it has commissioned a technical audit or investigation into the project and what action will be taken if breaches of procurement, construction or administrative procedures are established.
Mayor Namayanja, Town Clerk, engineer Mukiibi and the contractor should also be given an opportunity to respond to the concerns raised by the Minister.
Ultimately, the controversy is about more than a disagreement between government officials. It concerns the management of billions of shillings in public resources and the responsibility of city authorities to deliver infrastructure that meets the needs of residents.
Taxpayers deserve clear answers on why construction was stopped, why work allegedly continued despite the directive, whether the project is being properly supervised and what the Shs14 million allegation was about.
The Ministry must ensure that the dispute is resolved transparently and that the project delivers a functional, quality headquarters without exposing public funds to unnecessary delays, cost overruns or questionable expenditure.
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