Kabale Leaders Query IGG Order Stopping Firm’s Contract Termination
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Kabale Municipality authorities have questioned a directive by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) to block the termination of the contract with Multiplex Construction Company citing delays in project completion timelines and alleged shoddy work.
Multiplex is currently constructing urban roads in Kabale Municipality under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) Project.
The project worth 21.7 billion shillings is funded by the World Bank, with an initial completion period of May 2022 which was extended.
Multiplex Construction Company Ltd was contracted in May 2021 to tarmac a number of roads, including the
0.76-kilometre Bwankosa road, the 0.34-km Bushekwire Road, and a 2.47km road that connects the Kabale Catholic Diocesan Headquarters in Rushoroza to the Katuna-Kabale-Mbarara Highway.
The contractor is also implementing similar projects in Ntungamo and Mbarara Municipalities at 54 billion shillings.
However, despite the three extensions granted on the Kabale municipality roads, progress in construction work remains at 26.4 per cent. The contractor is still levelling the roads and digging trenches for the drainage system.
On 25th April 2023, during a supervisory visit by officials from USMID, World Bank, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and Kabale Municipality, the contractor was given until 03rd August 2023, to substantially complete works or risk losing the contract.
Deputy Inspector General of Government, Dr Patricia Achan Okiria, said that the IGG has begun investigations into claims of mistreatment by the contractor against Kabale Municipality authorities.
Mayor, Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha, said that they have received a letter from the IGG directing them neither to terminate the contract nor demand liquidation damages from the contractor. He described the directive as unfortunate.
Byamugisha wondered why the IGG issued the directive favouring the contractor yet the USMID Project Cluster 6 is ending in December 2023.
Byamugisha appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to intervene since he promised one of the roads under construction (Rushoroza Road) during his presidential campaign in 2010.
An official from Multiplex, the contractor cited several challenges that affected their capacity to deliver the road project on time.
Some Kabale Municipality residents also expressed disappointment that the USMID road project had taken a long long time to be completed and affected their businesses.
Bwankosya and Bushekwire roads that are under construction have been rendered almost impassable and whenever it rains, the road is not motorable.
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