Uganda High Court: Engineer Moris Thibenda's URC Capacity Building Project Fees Dispute

• Engineer Moris Thibenda has denied allegations of receiving Shs 3.7 billion in consultancy fees from the URC Capacity Building Project.
• Thibenda claims he was neither an employee nor a consultant of the URC, contradicting the claims made against him.
• The dispute has raised questions about transparency and accountability in public procurement projects in Uganda.
• Lawyers advising clients on such projects should be vigilant in identifying potential conflicts of interest and ensuring transparent consultant appointments.

Thibenda maintained that he was neither an employee nor a consultant of the URC, contradicting the claims made against him.

A dispute has emerged over consultancy fees paid to Engineer Moris Thibenda as part of the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) Capacity Building Project. The allegations against Thibenda claim he received more than Shs 3.7 billion from the project, but he denies any wrongdoing. In a letter dated August 4, 2026, Thibenda maintained that he was neither an employee nor a consultant of the URC, contradicting the claims made against him.

The dispute has raised questions about transparency and accountability in public procurement projects in Uganda. Lawyers advising clients on such projects should be vigilant in identifying potential conflicts of interest and ensuring transparent consultant appointments.

Public procurement laws in Uganda require transparency and accountability in the payment of consultancy fees to external experts. The URC Capacity Building Project is a government-funded initiative aimed at upgrading the country's railway infrastructure. As such, it falls under the purview of public procurement regulations, which demand strict adherence to transparency and accountability standards.

The dispute surrounding Thibenda's consultancy fees has sparked debate about the need for stricter regulations governing public procurement in Uganda. Critics argue that the lack of transparency and accountability in such projects creates an environment conducive to corruption and abuse of power.

The dispute over Thibenda's consultancy fees has significant implications for public procurement projects in Uganda. The allegations against him have raised concerns about the potential for conflicts of interest and the need for greater transparency in consultant appointments.

Lawyers advising clients on such projects should take heed of this case, ensuring that their clients are aware of the importance of transparency and accountability in public procurement. By doing so, they can help prevent similar disputes from arising in the future.

Lawyers advising clients on public procurement projects in Uganda should watch for potential conflicts of interest and ensure transparency in consultant appointments, following the allegations against Engineer Moris Thibenda.

Source: Original reporting via The Observer Media Ltd.