“Puente de Temu” or “toy bridge”: this is how users have dubbed this surreal and tiny viaduct in Uganda that has gone viral on social media. It is said to have cost thousands of euros. It is only the tip of the iceberg of the corruption that plagues the African country, where public funds are being squandered on substandard roads and road infrastructure like this.
The Ugandan Government is engaged in a hardline anti-corruption campaign, checking on the ground whether the new infrastructures correspond to the money invested. The initial inspections have brought to light a wide range of irregularities: poorly executed roads, exorbitant per diems that are not justified, schools and hospitals with fake employees… The list is long.
A viral bridge, the photo of a problem far bigger
The bridge depicted on Instagram accounts, with a rough finish and crossing over a sewer access, is in Budaka district. The videos show the astonished Ugandan State Minister for Local Authorities, Justine Nameere, pointing out such shabby infrastructure in front of a local contractor. This one tries to justify the project by claiming that 24 culverts had been installed along a 6.0-kilometer stretch of road.
In the videos, it is noted that the cost of this infrastructure is $350,000, an amount that has been misunderstood and exaggerated. But if we look at Budaka’s budget allocation approved for 2023 and 2024, more than 1.62o million Ugandan shillings for road rehabilitation and road infrastructure is recorded. At the exchange rate, around 370,000 euros. It’s understandable, then, that confusion arose.
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Nolan Kessler
I focus on performance-driven cars, emerging technologies, and the business forces shaping the automotive industry. My work aims to deliver clear, relevant insights without unnecessary noise, with a strong attention to detail and accuracy. I follow the evolution of mobility daily, with a particular interest in what defines the next generation of driving.
