The MV Ssese Ferry Fiasco

By Alexander Luyima | Hoima Post

A Costly Contract That Defies Reason

In a nation where schools lack basic supplies and clinics run out of essential drugs, the revelation that Uganda spends UGX 18 billion annually to rent the MV Ssese ferry while purchasing a brand-new vessel costs just UGX 16 billion has sparked widespread outrage.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Muwanga Kivumbi, confirmed that since 2012, the Ministry of Works and Transport has been locked in this contract with Kalangala Infrastructure Services (KIS). Meanwhile, the same firm owes the government UGX 800 million in unpaid licensing fees.

Dr. Sarah Bireete, Executive Director at the Centre for Constitutional Governance, warned:

> “Prosecutions alone without recovering stolen funds is pointless. We need parliamentary oversight to recover these losses and reform procurement practices.”

Parliamentary Breakdown and Hidden Costs

The Auditor General’s audit (October 2022) laid bare the inefficiencies:

The government paid UGX 25.7 billion in excess to KIS due to how payment terms shifted from per passenger to fixed-rate per trip.

The result? Sky-high costs per passenger over UGX 4,000 per km when the route served is under 7 km. Meanwhile, the longer MV Kalangala route (64 km) runs at just UGX 2,000 per km.

PAC’s Muwanga Kivumbi noted that the government is now considering contract renewal—sending alarm bells across oversight bodies and civic groups.

Opposition and Civil Society Demand Consequences

Joel Ssenyonyi, Leader of the Opposition and Nakawa West MP, seized on the opportunity:

> “Trillions are squandered through inflated contracts while citizens are told resources are scarce. These are stolen opportunities for our children.”

Strongly rejecting distractions, Ssenyonyi has demanded transparent investigations:

> “Why is Parliament failing to interrogate these contracts? The Speaker must convene a parliamentary commission—accountability cannot be delayed.”

 

He also condemned the deflective tactics used by public officials:

> “Stop hiding behind social issues like homosexuality to derail demands for financial transparency. Ugandans are asking where their money is going—not for ideological debates.”

This Time, the People Want Real Justice

Unlike past scandals that saw token reshuffles and cosmetic resignations, this moment demands far more. Citizens across social media and civic forums are clear:

Terminate the KIS contract immediately

Recover all misappropriated funds

Prosecute all responsible officials—and yes, send them to genuine prison, not “friendly detention”

Dr. Sarah Bireete put it plainly at the PAC budget workshop:

> “Corruption in infrastructure bleeds Uganda twice—first through theft, and again through lost services. We must disrupt this cycle, starting with recovering stolen funds.”

A National Inflection Point

The MV Ssese ferry is more than a failing contract—it symbolizes a broken system. For too long, government contracts have lined the pockets of a connected few while failing communities bear the cost.

Uganda doesn’t suffer from a lack of revenue, it suffers from a spending and oversight crisis. The remedy is clear: transparency, recovery, and accountability.

If Parliament and anti-corruption agencies act now, they can prove they serve Ugandans not profiteers. Until then, MV Ssese will remain a floating testament to systemic failure.