UNRA tasks contractors to adhere to govt's COVID-19 measures

Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has directed all contractors and consultants on the different road projects across the country to adhere to all directives issued by President Yoweri Museveni and the Ministry of Health aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In a communication to staff and project teams handling road, bridges development programme and road maintenance, UNRA executive director Allen Kagina directed the project managers to ensure no contractor or consultant breached any of the terms set by the President and the health ministry.

"Contractors must follow the Presidential directives and Special Operation Procedures (SOP) set up by the Ministry of Health, in their areas of work," Kagina directed.

Some of the directives include social distancing, ensuring staff are camped at the area of work, washing hands with soap, checking body temperatures of staff, restricting the movement of company cars with the areas of operation, among others.

On March 30, President Museveni ordered a 14-day nationwide lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.  Private vehicles were banned from roads after earlier restrictions requiring cars to only carry three passengers were ignored.

The President noted that some people were using their vehicles to transport others and increasing the risk of spreading the virus. He, however, noted that, "Construction sites should continue if they can be able to encamp their workers for 14 days.  Otherwise, they should suspend construction for the 14 day."

UNRA media affairs manager Allan Sempebwa noted that the Ministry of Health had also issued Special Operation guidelines and clearance to contractors and consultants to use their project vehicles but limit their usage within the project locations.

He noted that all the road contracts which included the upgrading of 23 roads, maintenance and rehabilitation of several others were still ongoing.

"The contractors have not stopped working. They are continuing with work but ensuring they are within the directives set by the President and provided for by the Ministry of Health. We expect them to limit their movements to the areas where they have contracts and also ensure their workers are confined within their camps," Sempebwa said.

He also noted that all UNRA's 23 stations across the country had been directed to hand over a branded vehicle to the respective Resident District Commissioners for easy coordination by the task forces that had been set up to curb the spread of COVID-19.

"On Friday we handed over 10 vehicles to Kampala Capital City Authority and starting this week, each UNRA station has been directed to hand over one branded vehicle to support the respective district services," he said.

On March 18, corporate companies and chief executives in Uganda selected Kagina to lead and chair sessions in coordinating and supplementing the Ministry of Health efforts in combating the global COVID19 epidemic.

Kagina's role is to ensure the needed communication and logistics essential in the fight against Coronavirus are mobilised.