Minister orders Chinese firm CRSG to complete Biiso road works by Feb 2027

The contractor for the 47km Masindi-Biiso road, China Railway Seventh Group Company Limited (CRSG), must complete the long-delayed project by February 2027, Works and Transport minister Fred Byamukama has directed.

Byamukama issued the directive on Thursday while inspecting the road, which is among critical oil roads being constructed in the Bunyoro sub-region.

The broader road project covers 106km, comprising the Masindi-Biiso (47km), Kabaale-Kiziranfumbi and Hohwa-Nyairongo-Kyarushesha-Butoole roads, at a combined cost of Shs 504 billion.

The contract was awarded to CRSG in 2019, with the firm later subcontracting the works to STC East Africa Investment Limited. Construction was initially scheduled for completion in 2022, but repeated extensions and financial constraints have delayed the project.

The contractor later abandoned the works, citing unpaid arrears of Shs 120 billion. Byamukama said the project was long overdue, noting that it was supposed to have been completed within three years.

He said the government had embarked on completing road projects that have stalled for years, adding that CRSG must now meet the February 2027 deadline.

Fred Byamukama minister of Works and Transport

The minister also said his office had launched investigations into the circumstances under which the road was diverted from passing through the Biiso community to Busingiro Hill in Biiso sub-county.

He said the diversion had delayed the project and increased the cost of completing the road. Byamukama said his office had been informed that some officials in Buliisa and Masindi districts allegedly connived with engineers to divert the road either to facilitate compensation claims or enable the sale of rocks to the contractor.

He said the allegations would be investigated and those found responsible for the diversion would be held accountable. The minister also said residents had complained that the contractor had blocked and destroyed several water sources in the course of executing the project.

“How do you block and destroy water sources?” Byamukama asked. “We can’t allow our people to suffer just because the contractor has destroyed their water sources because of the project. Let the contractor address the challenges so that people can access their water sources.”

However, Wang Quiang, the project manager, said the road was now 90 per cent complete and that the remaining works would be completed by the end of this year.

Quiang attributed the delays to challenges in land acquisition and delayed release of funds by the government.

The conflicting timelines mean the contractor’s claim of completing the remaining works by the end of this year will have to be reconciled with the minister’s February 2027 deadline.

Kenneth Kiiza Nyendwoha, Bujenje County MP, said the completed road would significantly improve the transportation of agricultural produce to markets and strengthen connectivity between Masindi and Buliisa districts.

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