Gulu Youth centre contractors demand for over sh800m
Apr 18, 2013
Contractors and suppliers of goods in Gulu district have given Office of the Prime Minster seven days to pay them sh820m for their services.
By CHRIS OCOWUN
Contractors and suppliers of goods in Gulu district have given the permanent secretary Office of the Prime Minster (OPM) seven days to pay them sh820m for their services or they seek legal redress.
In a letter dated April 16, 2013, they said the money accrued from services rendered to the Northern Uganda Youth Development Center (NUYDC) in Gulu.
Over 40 contractors and suppliers carried out construction works of a dining and multipurpose hall, motor vehicle workshops, staff houses, supply of food, stationery, training materials, poultry feeds and drugs to NUYDC.
The contractors and suppliers, who stormed the office of the director of NUYDC in Gulu on Tuesday attempted to attach property of the institution to recover their money.
"Well aware that you are the accounting officer in the OPM, you have full authority to act on our demands here listed; that all pending payments to the contractors and suppliers of NUYDC be made within seven days since it is long overdue," the letter stated.
They claimed they have been waiting for their payments for the last six months saying all payments must be made with costs as stipulated in the general condition of the contract. "With this notice, failure to act on our demands will force us to institute legal action on the OPM and NUYDC," the letter added.
Anthony Watuwa Khaukha, the director of NUYDC pleaded with the contractors and suppliers that towards the end of last year the unexpected happened to the OPM when all projects funded by the British Department for International Development (DFID) stopped due to the fraud in the ministry.
He said that the institution has got money in its account that can pay the contractors and the suppliers adding that he is under instruction not to spend the money until investigations into the fraud allegation are over.
Watuwa said all activities at the youth training centre have been suspended due to lack of funding adding the continued suspension will lead to complete closure of NUYDC.