Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /usr/www/users/urnnet/a/story.php on line 43 Residents Decry Delayed Completion of Sezibwa Bridge :: Uganda Radionetwork
In 2019, the Ministry of Works and Transport, contracted Omega Construction Ltd to build the road and the bridge over River Ssezibwa at 21 Billion Shillings. It was supposed to be completed within 18 months, but the contractor was granted a six-month extension.
Residents of
Jiira landing site in Kayunga District are calling for the speedy completion of
the Sezibwa Bridge that connects to Nakasongola district.
In 2019, the Ministry of Works and Transport, contracted Omega Construction Ltd
to build the road and the bridge over River Ssezibwa at 21 Billion Shillings.
It was supposed to be completed within 18 months, but the contractor was granted
a six-month extension.
The
residents are bitter that work has never been completed, even after the extension.
Karim
Kafuko, one of the residents at Jiira landing site says that there was hope
that once the road is completed, it will help to improve and make transport
cheaper between the two districts.
He notes that they are charged high transport costs from Nakasongola to Kayunga
with their farm produce. Boats charge between 3,000 to 7,000 Shillings.
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Another resident Sadic Kabanga, says the new road would create a highway from
their district to the Northern parts of the country which would boost the
development of sub-counties such as Kitimbwa, Kayonza, and Bbaale.
He adds that
it was unfortunate that the contractor doesn’t see the urgency to complete
it.
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The Project Coordinator of Omega Construction Ltd, Lillian Nabisere says they
had hoped to complete the works in February, but they faced challenges of
unexpected hike in prices of building materials.
She, however, assures us that 95 percent of the construction works are complete and
shortly the bridge will be ready for testing and the road will be ready for use
by travelers.
Nabisere adds that completed works on the 36-meter bridge include the box
culvert of eight cells, the drainage structures together with the 3.6km road
embankment.
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Last year,
the State Minister for Works and Road Transport Musa Ecweru gave a two-month
ultimatum to Omega Construction Company to complete the construction of Sezibwa
Bridge.
