New revelations suggest that the Chinese construction firm at the center of the Busabala junction scandal is behind a deliberate media campaign to shift blame from its own failings and pin the fatal road mishaps on the now-defunct Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).
According to findings by this investigative news outlet TrumpetNews, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC)—the firm contracted to design and build the Busabala–Najjanankumbi road—has been actively working to sanitize its image while quietly lobbying for a Shs 43 billion payout from government for incomplete work.
This development casts new light on the earlier narrative which largely blamed UNRA for the stalled project and the resulting road fatalities, including the high-profile death of businessman Rajiv Ruparelia last month.
MANIPULATION
Information obtained from top government officials suggested that CSCEC has been using local brokers to approach mainstream media houses, pushing them to publish articles that solely blame UNRA for the deadly chaos at the Busabala roundabout—despite the contractor’s own role in abandoning the project and failing to issue safety guidance.
“It’s not just about walking off a project. The contractor left a gaping safety hazard without as much as a warning or advice on how the roundabout should be managed,” an official said.
“The truth is being obscured to secure a payout for work that simply doesn’t exist.”
The contractor’s failure to complete the flyover has turned the junction—used by both locals and international travelers—into a black spot. At least five people have died at the site, including Rajiv, the son of tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia.
INSIDE HELP
Sources further allege that CSCEC is working hand-in-glove with unnamed officials inside the Ministry of Works and Transport to craft a favorable public image and pave the way for its disputed financial claims.
The company, it is alleged, continues to press for payment of the Shs 43 billion balance, despite the fact that major components of the project remain unexecuted.
“This is not just about poor planning; it’s manipulation at a high level,” a source within the ministry said on condition of anonymity. “We are now seeing a media war where facts are selectively presented to influence public perception and procurement decisions.”
INDEPENDENT INQUIRY
With the latest revelations, stakeholders are now calling for an independent investigation into not only the conduct of former UNRA officials, but also the actions of the Chinese contractor and its alleged collaborators in government.
“What happened at Busabala is more than a failed project—it’s a failure of ethics, transparency, and accountability,” said a source.
“We cannot allow foreign contractors to exploit loopholes in the system at the cost of Ugandan lives.”
This website is following up this matter and will bring more details..
