The project is expected to be complete by next month, but so far only 39% of the actual work has been completed, raising concerns among the city leaders.
Lira City
Councilors are concerned over the delayed completion of road works under the
Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development- USMID program.
Last year, Al Nuami Group and Abubakar Technical Services were awarded the
contract to make improvements on existing roads such as Note-Ber road, Olwol
road, Coronation Park, Boundary Road, Obangakene and Aber road. They are also
expected to construct a children’s park at the former Adyel Division
Headquarters.
The project is
expected to be complete by next month, but so far only 39% of the actual
work has been completed, raising concerns among the city leaders.
Herbert Apita, the Secretary of Works and Technical Services at Lira City, says
that although the contractor is on-site, he is working at a slow pace. He
doubts if the work will be completed on time.
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Haggard Oluma, a youth councillor in Lira City, accuses the contractor of
disregarding its responsibilities. Oluma thinks that the city has to extend
the contract period if the work is to be delivered.
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Geoffrey Ogwal, the councillor of Lira City West B, says delayed road
works have affected businesses especially those around Boundary Road.
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Edward Kiwanuka Gwavu, the Lira City Town clerk, explains that
Boundary Road is being constructed in line with the approved design which shows
that the first section is wider than the other parts.
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However,
Moses Elong, site engineer Abubakar Technical Services, attributed delayed works
to bad weather and negotiations with land owners to allow them to set up a camp
near Olwol road.
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Patrick
Ogweng, the Deputy City Clerk says the contractor has already submitted a
request for a contract extension. However, the request is awaiting approval from
the Project Management System (PMS).
