Ministry awards contractor certificate for shoddy bridge

By Patson Baraire

The parliamentary committee on assurances was astonished to find that a bridge in Kanungu district that purportedly cost the Government sh1.6b, has not been completed.

The committee was in the district to monitor several projects, which works state minister John Byabagambi told Parliament in July were on course and would be completed in six months.

The committee, led by the vice-chairperson, Nabilah Naggayi Ssempala, visited Birara bridge at the border of Rukungiri and Kanungu districts.

They found that despite payment to the contractor, M&B Engineering Company, construction had been abandoned after less than 20% of the work had been done.

Kanungu LC5 vice-chairman John Muhima, who accompanied the MPs, said the contract was awarded by the works ministry and the district had no powers over the contractor.

Muhima told the committee that a certificate of completion was given to the contractor. Naggayi said this was injustice to the people of Kanungu and suggested that the company be blacklisted.

“The minister ought to come clean and withdraw the assurances he made on the floor of the House that Birara bridge  would be completed as soon as possible.

“If a certificate of completion was issued as alleged, he must apologise to the people of Kanungu and Rukungiri,” Naggayi said.

A resident, Peter Rwagasore, lamented that over five people drown every year, while trying to cross the river. “What we want is a bridge because our people, especially women, have suffered enough,” Rwagasore said.

At Mitaano bridge on the same river, the MPs found that since it collapsed in May, the metal bars had not yet been retrieved from the river. “The minister should tell the House why this bridge (Mitaano), which was a lifeline, connecting Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo, has not been prioritised,” Naggayi said.