Phase 1: National High Altitude Training Centre almost complete

With the deadline on government funding for Phase One of the National High Altitude Training Centre in Kapchorwa looming, there is a rush to complete the small fraction of remaining works.

Guess what, the signs look good.

"The overall percentage of completion for Phase one stands at 78%," Commissioner for Physical Education in the Ministry of Education and Sports Omara Apiita told New Vision Sports yesterday.

"And between April and June we are hopeful the entire work for Phase One will be completed."

Hopeful is the key word because the fulfilment of pending works depends on a major factor out of the control of the project contractors COMPLANT and consultants. That is, the construction of the 12km stretch from Kapchorwa town to Teryet, required to transport of crucial project resources like asphalt, the synthetic running track and artificial turf.

Joshua Cheptegei (L) talks to Commisioner for Sports Omara Apita (R) at the Stephen Kiptrotich High Altitude Centre Teryet . PHOTO BY JOHNSON WERE.

That bit belongs to national roads body UNRA, who have thankfully commenced working on the road and could be done by February.

"If the weather stays as good as it is now, the road could be done in the next two months," disclosed UNRA project engineer Godfrey Bihemaiso.

"What delayed us was the compensation of land owners and the heavy rainy weather but now the work has resumed."

It was revealed last year that funding for Phase One of the overdue High Performance Centre will not extend beyond this financial year and Apiita explained that that should not be a problem because it should be ready by then.

IAAF official Gunter Lang explains a point to Joshua Cheptegei about the progress of the Stephen Kiprotich High Altitude Centre as Commisuioner of sports Omara Apita (R) looks on. PHOTO BY JOHNSON WERE

In fact, COMPLANT - who commenced work on January 20 2017 - were supposed to be through with Phase One by this end of this week but as Apiita revealed the weather and road problems slowed progress.

Phase One includes, among others, construction of the hostel block ( now at 97% completion), water reservoir and water pump house construction (60%), athletics track (80%), jogging track (75%), artificial turf (80%), electrical and mechanical reticulation 5%.  

The High Altitude Centre, which stands at 2,573 meters above sea level, is the result of Presidential pledge made in the wake of Moses Kipsiro's double 5000m and 10000m double gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2010.