He accused the two officers of collusion to frustrate compensation for project Affected Persons along the Nateete-Nakawuka road project.
The arrests were made as the minister inspected ongoing works on the Nateete-Nakawuka road project.
The project has reportedly progressed at a snail’s pace due to various challenges, including high compensation costs for affected landowners.
The officials, who are being held at Mpigi Police Station are Isaac Akampa, the ministry valuer, and Elijah Sekitto, the ministry surveyor.
Byamukama said inflated compensation claims are causing the government huge financial losses, citing several new structures erected along uncompensated sections of the road in areas such as Membe and Lufuka in Mpigi, where the Kisubi-Nakawuka-Nateete-Kasanje-Mpigi road is expected to pass.
The minister revealed that compensation costs for the 72-kilometre Nateete-Nakawuka road far exceed the actual construction costs. The compensation stands at Shs 430 billion, while construction was projected at Shs 340.5 billion.
The minister also heard from locals that the arrested officials, together with others still at large, buy land from residents at relatively low prices and then rapidly develop it including putting up flats and digging empty graves to inflate its compensation value.
“They work with mafias, buy land from poor people, then construct flats at very high speed. They only furnish the front part but leave the inside empty to increase the valuation for compensation,” Byamukama said.
He added: “In Lufuka they have even invented another trick I did not know about that the cost of compensating land with a grave is very high for the Ugandan government, probably because of disturbing the rights of the dead. But these people have dug something resembling graves where they claim they buried their loved ones. They even say that when you touch the grave the ancestors will kill you, yet inside there is nothing. This is now a battle between me and these mafias, and we shall see who will win this war,” Byamukama said.
Residents also raised concerns over fuel theft affecting the pace of construction, as excessive dust continues to impact businesses along the road.
Construction of the Nateete-Nakawuka road was officially launched in 2024. Key sections include the 27km Kisubi-Nakawuka-Nateete link, with connections to Kasanje, Mpigi, Maya and Entebbe-Nakiwogo.
The contract valued at Shs 340.5 billion, with a three-year timeline meant to run through late 2026. However, It has been delayed by land acquisition and compensation challenges for affected persons-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
