Contractors ask govt for law on construction
Aug 04, 2009
BUILDING contractors have urged the Government to enact a law to regulate the construction industry. “The nation lacks a policy to regulate the industry, to set and enforce bylaws and to evaluate and classify contractors,†Gumisiriza Birantana, the ch
By Francis Emorut
BUILDING contractors have urged the Government to enact a law to regulate the construction industry. “The nation lacks a policy to regulate the industry, to set and enforce bylaws and to evaluate and classify contractors,†Gumisiriza Birantana, the chairman of Uganda National Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, said.
The contractors argued that the law would instill professionalism and promote development in the industry. They noted that the Government had taken six years to come up with the national construction industry policy, saying this had hindered the development of the industry.
“If enacted into law and implemented the problems facing the industry, such as shoddy work, collapsing of buildings and pseudo players would be resolved,†Birantana said.
He pointed out that it was only Uganda in the East African region that did not have a construction policy.
The contractors expressed fear that lack of a law would make it hard for them to compete when the East African Community trade block commences in 2010.
“It is disappointing to note that it is only Uganda throughout the entire East African sub-region without such policy and law. Lack of this policy will inevitably hinder Ugandan contractors from competing favourably with their colleagues in EAC region,†Birantana said.
He was speaking at the association’s 16th annual general meeting at Ivys Hotel in Kampala on recently.
Other complaints the contractors raised included lack of training institutions for machine operators, delayed payments by Government, low capacity of local contractors and lack of continuous job opportunities.
The chairman of the parliamentary committee on physical infrastructure and development, Katikamu North MP Abraham Byandala, promised to follow up the issues with the Minister of Works.
BUILDING contractors have urged the Government to enact a law to regulate the construction industry. “The nation lacks a policy to regulate the industry, to set and enforce bylaws and to evaluate and classify contractors,†Gumisiriza Birantana, the chairman of Uganda National Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, said.
The contractors argued that the law would instill professionalism and promote development in the industry. They noted that the Government had taken six years to come up with the national construction industry policy, saying this had hindered the development of the industry.
“If enacted into law and implemented the problems facing the industry, such as shoddy work, collapsing of buildings and pseudo players would be resolved,†Birantana said.
He pointed out that it was only Uganda in the East African region that did not have a construction policy.
The contractors expressed fear that lack of a law would make it hard for them to compete when the East African Community trade block commences in 2010.
“It is disappointing to note that it is only Uganda throughout the entire East African sub-region without such policy and law. Lack of this policy will inevitably hinder Ugandan contractors from competing favourably with their colleagues in EAC region,†Birantana said.
He was speaking at the association’s 16th annual general meeting at Ivys Hotel in Kampala on recently.
Other complaints the contractors raised included lack of training institutions for machine operators, delayed payments by Government, low capacity of local contractors and lack of continuous job opportunities.
The chairman of the parliamentary committee on physical infrastructure and development, Katikamu North MP Abraham Byandala, promised to follow up the issues with the Minister of Works.