60% Time, 38% Money for Lira Roads Gone yet Only 10% Work is Done

Leaders in Lira are worried that there is minimal progress on the roads improvement project which is believed to have already consumed 14 of the allocated 37 billion shillings with 9 of its 15 months period already gone.

So far, less than 10% progress has been registered since the inception of the second phase of the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development -USMID Project.

Authorities at Lira City are now worried over the slow progress of the work.

The project targets to make improvements on the existing roads such as 0.18km Obangakene road, Noteber 0.251km, Olwol road 0.534, Uhuru 0.3km and Boundary road 2.177km among others. It will also include the completion of the coronation park and construction of the children’s park at Adyel Division in Lira City West Division.

Al-Nuiami Group and Abubaker Technical Services were awarded the 37.6 Billion Shillings contract in April this year. The work which is expected to be complete in 15months stalled for over 3 months after contract signing and it started but at a slow pace.

Lind Agnes Auma, the Lira District Woman MP wondered why the project is not moving despite having everything on ground.

“This leaves a question mark on the consulting firm because we signed the contracts in April and up to date there is less than 10% work done yet they are expected to finish in 15 months, how will that be possible?" she asked. "I have heard rumors that we still do not have artistic impressions of the place but we have sunk close to 14billion shillings already. This is not acceptable.”

Morris Chris Ongom, the chairperson Lira City Development Forum cited unfavorable physical conditions and political interference as barriers to effective implementation and development of the project.

He urged the contractor and consultants to speed up on their work so that they do not miss out the other opportunities that may come up since they have registered.

Eng byte:

Cue in: “This current contract…

Cue out: ... sure we address.”//

However, Edward Kiwanuka, the Town Clerk who attributed the delays to inconsistencies in the project designs says the work is now ongoing and hopes that the project will be complete within the contract period.

Eng byte:

//Cue in: “In the 3 months…'//

Cue out: … compromise on standards.”//

Meanwhile Fred Owiny, the Lira City engineer acknowledged that some components of the project are running but without its artistic impression.

Eng byte:

//Cue in: “We have not…'//

Cue out: …. was the position.”//

For Rose Olago, a maize flour vendor along Note Ber road is worried that her business may collapse because the road works which has halted their businesses is taking so long to be completed and yet COVID_19 had also negatively affected them.

Luo byte:

//Cue in: “Wan oye dang….'//

Cue out: ... ticoro keken.”//

Lira City is now in the 5th year of implementing USMID project which has seen the rehabilitation of several roads such as Obote Avenue, Soroti, Kwania, Maruzi, Aduku road, Aroma lane under Phase I.