COVID-19 delays sh3.6b skills project

The education ministry permanent secretary, Alex Kakooza, has expressed concern over the slow pace of the expansion works for Katwe Technical Institute.

The facility in Rwenjubu Lower, Katwe-Kabatoro town council in Kasese district, is part of the World Bank-funded Uganda Skills Development Project (USDP).

The USDP spokesperson, Judith Ogola, said it is worth $1m (about sh3.6b) and is among the 16 being constructed in various parts of Uganda under a $100m (about sh370b) World Bank loan.

While at Katwe to check on the progress of the works, Kakooza repeatedly sought assurances that the contractor, Newton Technical Services Ltd, would deliver the project on time.

Delayed by COVID-19

Some of the firm's staff at the site attributed the delay to the COVID-19 pandemic and said they were going to request for a two-month extension.

They explained that the pandemic had hampered them from getting some of the required materials from beyond Kasese.

Kasese was among the border districts that remained under lockdown longer than others to contain the spread of COVID-19 that was fast spreading in neighbouring countries.

Kakooza also urged community leaders across the country to keenly monitor the construction of such educational facilities to check shoddy work.

He cited a case of a classroom block roof that had collapsed during construction in Kyaka II, Kyegegwa district.

Kakooza said the school in Kyegegwa had about 2,000 learners, now at home due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

"Kindly, look at the quality of work we are doing. Do not just pick interest in the building going up, but ensure its quality as well," he said.

"Make sure what is being done here is commensurate with the money we are paying. It is an infrastructure for all of us. Whereas as we are paying for it as the Government, it is the property of this area," he added.

Ogola said four of the 16 colleges, including Katwe Technical Institute, had been selected to become centres of excellence.

She said the other four are Bushenyi, Nyamitanga and Karera, Uganda Technical College and Lake Katwe Technical and Vocational Training Institute.

"The technical colleges of Bushenyi, Lira, and Bukalasa Agricultural College will provide high-quality competency-based training for low-level, medium-level and high-level artisans with skills demanded by the industry," Ogola said.

She said they will network with 12 other vocational training institutions, namely UTC Lira, Kalongo, ORA, Kitgum, Kasodo, Kaliro, Butaleja and Kaberamaido technical and vocational training institutes.

The others are Uganda Technical College Elgon, Bukalasa Agricultural College, Rwentanga Farm Institute and Ssese Farm Institute.

45,000 set to benefit

By the end of implementation, the USDP is expected to have benefited about 45,000 trainees across the targeted institutions.

Ogola said the five-year project, scheduled to wind up later this year, was approved in April 2015 and commenced in October 2016.

Aimed at enhancing the capacity of institutions to deliver high quality, demand-driven training programmes, it targets the construction, manufacturing and agriculture sectors.

The chairperson of Katwe Technical Institute's governing body, Henry Kabiriri, lauded the Government for the facility, noting that it would address some of the long-standing educational needs of the residents.

He implored the education ministry to consider staff accommodation, transport and a living allowance for the administration to retain them.

Catherine Mbambu Mbahimba, the Kasese town clerk, said being in the middle of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the area is hard to reach unless one uses private means.

She said it costs up to sh40,000 to reach the institute from Kasese town and back by public means.