URC Clarifies UGX 25 Billion Training Claims Amid Parliamentary Scrutiny

KAMPALA, Uganda – The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has moved to clarify recent social media reports alleging that over UGX 25 billion was spent exclusively on training 300 staff members, a claim that has sparked public outcry and prompted parliamentary investigation .

Greetings, Comrades.

"Over 25 billion spent on training URC staff"

Following media and online reports about the subject, we clarify as follows.

On 25 January 2018, the RVR concession was repudiated by MoFPED. On the same day, URC was directed to take over and sustain railway…
— UGANDA RAILWAYS CORPORATION (@RailwaysUganda) August 1, 2026

The controversy began when allegations surfaced online that UGX 25 billion was spent on training, with three individuals accused of pocketing over UGX 3 billion as foreign consultants who allegedly never left Uganda. The posts specifically named Morris Tibenda, Paul Tukasaba, and Kizza Pasikaziya.

URC’s Official Clarification

In a detailed statement, URC explained that the funds in question originate from a €28.96 million loan secured from Spain in 2019, under which Spanish firms Consultrans and Imathia were contracted . The corporation clarified that €4.821 million—approximately UGX 20.84 billion at current exchange rates—was allocated to a broader capacity-building component, not exclusively for staff training as claimed .

According to URC, the capacity-building budget covered:

· Refresher courses for URC staff
· Operational costs for the contractor during their three-year engagement in Uganda
· Remuneration for international experts and Ugandan personnel
· Other implementation-related expenses

Crucially, URC emphasized that all project funds were disbursed directly to the contractor in Spain, with no money transferred directly to the corporation for expenditure . “Therefore, no spend was made at source by URC for this project,” the corporation stated.

Parliamentary Probe Intensifies

The matter has drawn significant attention from Parliament’s Physical Infrastructure Committee, which has directed URC to provide a full breakdown of how the funds were spent . During recent meetings, committee members questioned the scale of the expenditure and the practicality of the training arrangements.

Committee Chairperson Mwine Mpaka expressed concern about the spending, noting, “Can you imagine we are borrowing money to train? UGX25Billion to train. How many staff?” .

The committee has ordered URC to submit a complete list of all employees who reportedly attended training sessions, with plans to use the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) to verify the identities and whereabouts of participants .

Contradictions and Confusion

During parliamentary hearings, URC officials appeared to contradict themselves regarding the exact amount spent. While Corporation Secretary Grace Opoka initially claimed the training cost €8 million (UGX 34.15 billion), Managing Director Benon Kajuna later corrected this figure to €4.8 million (UGX 20.49 billion) .

URC officials told the committee that the training covered 43 programmes for 1,150 employees nationwide, including electrical technical training, performance management, financial analysis, and security guard training .

Infrastructure Progress Amid Controversy

Despite the scrutiny, URC has highlighted ongoing infrastructure achievements, including:

Tororo-Gulu Line: Scheduled for handover in October 2026, with works currently reaching Lira
Station Rehabilitation: Along the Tororo-Gulu line, including Mbale, Kumi, Soroti, Achuna, Lira, and Gulu
AfDB-Funded Projects: Including fitting lines with concrete sleepers, procuring diesel electric locomotives, 100 high-capacity wagons, and LPG tanks
Passenger Hubs: Construction at Namanve, Kyengera, and Mukono for AFCON 2027
Cargo Transport: Resumed transportation of local cargo within Uganda
Safety Measures: Fitting high-risk level crossings with manual barriers, with 100 police officers deployed to secure URC assets

Way Forward

The committee has given URC one week to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the capacity-building expenditure, including details on training reports and participant lists . The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about transparency in public spending and the management of foreign loans for infrastructure development.

This story is based on URC’s official statement and parliamentary proceedings. The matter continues to evolve as investigations proceed.