Delayed completion of bridge irks Maracha leaders
Jul 07, 2008
Local leaders in Maracha/Terego are concerned about the delayed completion of Enyau Bridge. Together with development partners, they have asked the Government to penalise the contractor.
By Frank Mugabi
Local leaders in Maracha/Terego are concerned about the delayed completion of Enyau Bridge. Together with development partners, they have asked the Government to penalise the contractor.
Construction of the 60-metre bridge meant to ease movement between Odupi and Oriama sub- counties commenced in September last year and was to take only six months.
However, five months behind schedule, the work being undertaken by Dott Services is still far from complete.
The UN refugee agency in Arua that lobbied for the $1m (about sh1.6b) funding from the Danish government for the project, urged the contractor to speed up the work.
UNHCR area chief Abdoulaye Barry said the bridge was intended to boost the ongoing repatriation of refugees.
“If the bridge was functional, we would reduce the journey from the settlements to the way station near the Sudanese border in Koboko by over 50km.â€
Barry was doubtful that the bridge would be completed by August as promised by the contractors.
Area MP Kassiano Wadri said the contractors lacked the capacity to handle the work.
He said work was at a standstill, with the contractors expecting more manpower from other projects like the controversial Northern Bypass in Kampala.
Disaster preparedness minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, who recently visited the site, could not hide his disappointment.
“I am totally disappointed with the pace of work on this bridge. You are summoned to my office to explain,†he wrote in the visitors’ book.
The site engineer, Laker Oboth, said no work was conducted from December to March because “we lacked vital machinery.â€
He said a piling machine was imported from China after the first one failed.
Local leaders in Maracha/Terego are concerned about the delayed completion of Enyau Bridge. Together with development partners, they have asked the Government to penalise the contractor.
Construction of the 60-metre bridge meant to ease movement between Odupi and Oriama sub- counties commenced in September last year and was to take only six months.
However, five months behind schedule, the work being undertaken by Dott Services is still far from complete.
The UN refugee agency in Arua that lobbied for the $1m (about sh1.6b) funding from the Danish government for the project, urged the contractor to speed up the work.
UNHCR area chief Abdoulaye Barry said the bridge was intended to boost the ongoing repatriation of refugees.
“If the bridge was functional, we would reduce the journey from the settlements to the way station near the Sudanese border in Koboko by over 50km.â€
Barry was doubtful that the bridge would be completed by August as promised by the contractors.
Area MP Kassiano Wadri said the contractors lacked the capacity to handle the work.
He said work was at a standstill, with the contractors expecting more manpower from other projects like the controversial Northern Bypass in Kampala.
Disaster preparedness minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, who recently visited the site, could not hide his disappointment.
“I am totally disappointed with the pace of work on this bridge. You are summoned to my office to explain,†he wrote in the visitors’ book.
The site engineer, Laker Oboth, said no work was conducted from December to March because “we lacked vital machinery.â€
He said a piling machine was imported from China after the first one failed.