This is the third time the contract is being extended to allow the contractors complete the works after failing to meet the first and second extensions.
The Mbarara
City Authorities have extended by three months the contract to tarmac three major
roads under Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructures Development [USMID]
Programme.
The
Government of Uganda on 18th, May, 2021 awarded Multiplex Limited and
Ditaco International trade a joint venture contract to construct Major Victor Bwana measuring 0.95 km, Galt Road measuring 0.65KM and
Stanley Road measuring 0.78 km for 23.6 Billion shillings in
Mbarara City.
This is the third time the contract is
being extended to allow the contractors complete the works after failing to meet the first and second extensions.
The contract
for the road works that was initially one year and was supposed to end in April this
year was extended after the contractor gave justifiable
reasons for the extension until October and another extension was done again after
the contractor asked for more time until 28th December 2022 which is now left with
six days.
During the Council sitting on Thursday chaired by the City Speaker Boony
Tashobya Karushya, the Councilors were informed by the Deputy City Mayor Priscah
Murongo that the contractor Multiplex had asked for only twenty-eight days
which the city executive found impossible for him to finish the works in those
days.
She told the
council that Mbarara City was lucky for the work done compared to other
Municipalities like Kabale and Ntungamo.
She told the
council that if the contractor fails to complete the work, they will forward the issue to the
Ministry of Lands and Urban development for consideration.
//Cue in:
“we are very…
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…complete this work.”//
Merinah
Kekijusyo, the City Engineer and also the Project Supervisor said that he had presented two reasons explaining his request for an extension including
interruption by rains and NEMA delaying to give an environmental assessment
certificate for the quarry and these were accepted by the consultant.
//Cue in:
“he had reasons…
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…28th of December.”//
She said
that the contractor has only managed 68% of the work done noting that the
remaining work needs two months to complete.
//Cue in:
“the remaining work…
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…works are completed.”//
During the
deliberations by the councilors, they questioned what the consultant based on to
grant 28 days and also allow further extension, measurements of the work done
and the work left.
//Cue in:
“procedurally Mr Speaker…
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…are not enough.”//
Bonny
Tashobya Karushya, the City Speaker later put the granting of an extension to
Voting with eight councilors voting that the contractor be awarded three
months and two councilors voting that he be given two months.
