Builders who worked on Bubungi Health Centre III in Bududa
district are protesting delayed payment by Geomax Engineering Company who are the
contractors.
Geomax Engineering Company was contracted by the Ministry
of Health to construct a maternity ward, toilets, placenta pit,
medical works pit and proposed renovation of the old outpatient department
(OPD) at the same facility.
The 467 million shilling project which started in March 2019 is
nearing completion but workers who did work at the site like mixing concrete and actual building, among other works are crying foul over delayed pay.
Workers like Deo Wamboyo, Agnes Nabuduwa also known as Small, Sam Namondo, and many others are now pinning the project Supervisor Geomax
Engineering Company for delaying to pay them saying they thought they would get
money to sustain their families but have waited for 3 weeks in vain, adding that
they got food items from the shops on credit thinking that he would repay in
time but since then they have failed to because they have not been paid.
They also blame the company for not coming out to explain to
them.
Simon Peter Zanga the project supervisor Geomax Engineering
Company admitted the delayed payment but said they are also waiting for the
money from the ministry so that they can start to pay whoever was demanding
them.
He said they have not been paid yet the work is at completion.
He pledged to pay all the porters and food vendors when the
money trickles on their account.
//Cue in: “It is true… Cue out: …with our workers”//
Issa Bukoma the Bududa district Engineer said they are to
convene a meeting with the contractors this Thursday which shall have the final
decision about the payments so that they can pay their workers and also
complete the works.
Wilson Watira the Bududa district Local council five
Chairperson Promised to address the matter so that the workers are paid their
money.
Andrew Nakhaboya
Freelancer