The leadership of Mbarara City has cautioned contractors who execute substandard works on government projects to expect severe consequences.  

Moses Ariho, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Mbarara City South Division, told the contractors on Wednesday during the launch of the construction of a sh264m housing project for teachers, that nothing short of quality work will be tolerated. 

“I want to assure you that if you know you have no capacity to do this work, better resign today and we get another contractor. But if it is to compromise the standards and go against the bills of quantities, we shall fight,” stated Ariho. 

Moses Ariho, Deputy RCC Mbarara City South launching the construction of a staff unit at Karama Primary school

Three staff teachers’ houses were constructed at Nyamityobora Primary School while six were constructed at Karama Primary School, both in Mbarara City. 

The units at Nyamityobora will be constructed by Brace and Team Uganda Ltd, while the units at Karama will be built by Excel Supplies and Technical Services Ltd. 

Mbarara City Mayor, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, told the contractors that they’ve had numerous challenges in dealing with local contractors who never finish works on time. 

“Failure to complete work in time and doing shoddy works brings conflict between leadership and residents. Don’t use the money that is supposed to work, to bribe leaders with fuel. If you know you have put money aside thinking it is fuel for Kakyebezi, please leave it and do your job well,” he said. 

Nyamityobora Primary School headteacher, Patience Arinaitwe, commended the government for coming to their rescue by providing accommodation for teachers. 

“We pledge that our pupils will continue to perform well since the teachers will be sleeping at school, but ask the government to recruit for us more teachers to increase the ratio of pupils to teachers,” said Arinaitwe. 

She revealed that the school has a total population of about 600 pupils with only 13 government teachers, which she said is alarming.  

At Karama Primary School there are only five government teachers with a total enrolment of about 300 pupils. 

Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, Mayor Mbarara City speaking at Karama Primary school where they are constructing a staff unit with six houses for teachers

Francis Tumwebaze, the Mbarara City education officer, said when Mbarara became a city, most of the sub counties that were under the district were annexed to the city, and this has posed a massive challenge. 

“About 40 village schools that were under the district came to the city and we have not gotten money to allow us to recruit teachers. We have tried to handle this problem at all levels, but our efforts have proved futile. Our hands are tied also,” said Tumwebaze. 

Lillian Kobusingye, Deputy City Clerk, asked the school administrators who are the custodians of the schools’ infrastructure, to ensure that they are kept safe. 

“Such facilities are brought by the government but due to laxity of administrators, pupils vandalise them. We call upon all head teachers to ensure that these facilities are kept in good condition,” she said.