Two bosses paid sh800m for potholes
Two consultants were paid sh800m to supervise the patching of potholes in Kampala in preparation for last year’s Commonwealth meeting, a special audit has revealed.
By Felix Osike
Two consultants were paid sh800m to supervise the patching of potholes in Kampala in preparation for last year’s Commonwealth meeting, a special audit has revealed.
The Auditor General, John Muwanga, in a report to the Cabinet, questioned why one consultant was paid sh511m for supervising the work on 45.86km of roads, yet another got only sh280m for a longer distance of 63.27km.
On average, the first firm was paid sh11m for each kilometre of road.
A number of roads were selected in Kololo and Nakasero for maintenance and drainage works at a cost of sh8.2b.
The contracts were later revised to sh9.9b, 21% above the original contract.
Inconsistencies and big variations in the rates for similar work elsewhere were reported.
The CHOGM infrastructure committee headed by the works ministry permanent secretary, Charles Muganzi, was in charge of road improvements, maintenance and emergency repairs in Entebbe
and Kampala. It received sh91.7b.
This was to cater for beautification and public health activities, improvement of the meteorological station in Entebbe, emergency repairs in Kampala and civil works for the Civil Aviation Authority.
President Museveni has vowed to crackdown on corrupt officials involved in road and school construction.
The audit also revealed that the works ministry diverted sh8.5b to meet other expenses related to the construction of the Northern Bypass.
The report said the ministry paid a consultant to design a number of roads but the they were not worked on.
They included Makindye-Nsambya and Najjanankumbi-Makindye, which were designed by MBW Consulting Engineers.
Nakiwogo-Nsamizi, Manyago road, State House Entebbe gate-Nakiwogo were designed by Multiplan Consulting Engineers, while Ngamba and Bulago islands landing sites were designed by Prome Consultants.
It was discovered that some of the funds were spent on private property.
The report observed that the quality of some works was doubtful.
Roads which had just been repaired had either developed potholes or were ripping.
An example cited was Entebbe Road, which was done with Bitumen surface dressing. The first section to Kisubi failed and had to be redone.
“But even after resurfacing the road, some sections around Seguku had stones stripped off,†read the report.
It was noted that contractors were charging different prices for similar items yet contracts were awarded in the same period.
There were wide disparities between the prices charged and the published list of materials on the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) official website
The Auditor General also questioned payments totalling sh8.8b for the construction of driveways and parking and road kerbs.
Four companies were contracted to carry out emergency works. They were Cementers, Dott Services, Spencon Services and Sterling Civil Engineering.
The report points out many irregularities in the procurement process.
A separate investigation by the PPDA found out that none of the bidders satisfied the requirements in the solicitation documents. Invitation letters were sent without the bid documents.
The report said the companies were ordered to commence works without any signed contracts.
Two consultants were paid sh800m to supervise the patching of potholes in Kampala in preparation for last year’s Commonwealth meeting, a special audit has revealed.
The Auditor General, John Muwanga, in a report to the Cabinet, questioned why one consultant was paid sh511m for supervising the work on 45.86km of roads, yet another got only sh280m for a longer distance of 63.27km.
On average, the first firm was paid sh11m for each kilometre of road.
A number of roads were selected in Kololo and Nakasero for maintenance and drainage works at a cost of sh8.2b.
The contracts were later revised to sh9.9b, 21% above the original contract.
Inconsistencies and big variations in the rates for similar work elsewhere were reported.
The CHOGM infrastructure committee headed by the works ministry permanent secretary, Charles Muganzi, was in charge of road improvements, maintenance and emergency repairs in Entebbe
and Kampala. It received sh91.7b.
This was to cater for beautification and public health activities, improvement of the meteorological station in Entebbe, emergency repairs in Kampala and civil works for the Civil Aviation Authority.
President Museveni has vowed to crackdown on corrupt officials involved in road and school construction.
The audit also revealed that the works ministry diverted sh8.5b to meet other expenses related to the construction of the Northern Bypass.
The report said the ministry paid a consultant to design a number of roads but the they were not worked on.
They included Makindye-Nsambya and Najjanankumbi-Makindye, which were designed by MBW Consulting Engineers.
Nakiwogo-Nsamizi, Manyago road, State House Entebbe gate-Nakiwogo were designed by Multiplan Consulting Engineers, while Ngamba and Bulago islands landing sites were designed by Prome Consultants.
It was discovered that some of the funds were spent on private property.
The report observed that the quality of some works was doubtful.
Roads which had just been repaired had either developed potholes or were ripping.
An example cited was Entebbe Road, which was done with Bitumen surface dressing. The first section to Kisubi failed and had to be redone.
“But even after resurfacing the road, some sections around Seguku had stones stripped off,†read the report.
It was noted that contractors were charging different prices for similar items yet contracts were awarded in the same period.
There were wide disparities between the prices charged and the published list of materials on the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) official website
The Auditor General also questioned payments totalling sh8.8b for the construction of driveways and parking and road kerbs.
Four companies were contracted to carry out emergency works. They were Cementers, Dott Services, Spencon Services and Sterling Civil Engineering.
The report points out many irregularities in the procurement process.
A separate investigation by the PPDA found out that none of the bidders satisfied the requirements in the solicitation documents. Invitation letters were sent without the bid documents.
The report said the companies were ordered to commence works without any signed contracts.