The Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) will cease to exist once President Museveni signs new legislation passed by Parliament on November 6.

Minutes after the passage of the controversial Coffee Bill, the 305 lawmakers left in the House after their counterparts opposed to the abolition of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority stormed out, also passed other bills including the Uganda National Roads Authority (Repeal) Bill, 2024.

This law dissolved Unra and transferred its functions to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

The Minister of Works and Transport, General Edward Katumba Wamala, told Parliament before the passage of the law that the repeal of the UNRA would enable the integration and rationalization of its functions in his ministry, thereby relieving government from the financial drain on its resources and the burden of unnecessary administration and expenditure. .

His ministry, he added, will continue to carry out the functions of UNRA at lower cost, as was the case before the establishment of UNRA in 2006.

“We are not going to create unemployment, we are going to validate all UNRA workers and those who want to work in the public service are welcome,” he said.

In its report, the Physical Infrastructure Committee led by its Chairman, Mr. Dan Kimosho, recommended the integration of Unra but charged the ministry to ensure minimal disruption to ongoing projects; in-depth contract reviews to identify restrictive covenants, engaging stakeholders (contractors, financiers) to renegotiate or renew contracts and develop contingency plans to mitigate potential project suspension or penalties.

“The Committee supports the government’s decision to streamline the Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) and merge its functions with the Ministry of Works and Transport. However, given UNRA’s significant portfolio of Sh9 trillion, including loans binding the agency as an implementing partner, the Committee recommends a transitional management period of three years to ensure a smooth transfer. This phased approach will enable the ministry to absorb Unra’s responsibilities, mitigate potential disruptions and ensure uninterrupted development and maintenance of roads,” he said.

The Committee also recommended that the government strengthen the technical capacity of all technical staff in the ministry to undertake highly complex projects, rather than outsourcing services to other agencies.

Mr. Kimosho said: “The Committee recommends that UNRA staff be given new mandates under the Ministry of Works and Transport to relieve the government of the financial drain on resources due to unnecessary administrative expenditure . »

Parliament also passed the Uganda Road Fund Bill, which sought to dissolve the Uganda Road Fund and hand over its functions to the Ministry of Works and Transport.