5 BILLION USMID-AF PROJECT IN ARUA CITY AND DISTRICT DRAGS ON DUE TO SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER

By Godwin Abedican

Arua

Commissioned on 4th October 2022 as an eight months project, contracted to Niem Establishments limited, the project works at two bridge sites on river Enyau which runs from Arua district through Arua city, were meant to end by 30th of June 2023, but due to numerous challenges, the contractor had to apply for an extension of the project timeline which has since been granted by the district and city, pushing the expected completion date to the end of November this year.

Photo showing workers at pajulu bridge site in March 2023
 
The district and city had a joint project monitoring at the two sites on Thursday 27th July 2023. From the observations they made, they noted with concern that the project has been basically delayed due to the limited number of personnel deployed at the two sites.

The projects being implemented with funding from the government of the republic of Uganda with support from the world bank under Uganda support to municipal infrastructure development additional funding USMID-AF are worth a combined project cost of 5 billion shillings.

While speaking at Enyau 2 bridge site, Alfred Okuonzi the district chairperson noted with concern that the works in the two sites are not being balanced due to limited number of people deployed. “We want to see that by the first week of September you put the two projects at the same level. I am happy you are going to the other site over the weekend. I am hopeful that you will push on fast.

Talking about the pace of the work, much as work is being done, for me as the chairman I am not happy. I have been moving here at my free time, the pace at which the work is moving am not happy with but where you have reached I can see that there is a ray of hope. For us we are not interested in the things you are doing down, we want to see the real structure coming up and then we say that the bridge is there now. Aim at building confidence and trust in us by making the works to be seen by the public, not really hurriedly but the work must be at a quality level, abridge that can serve us for 200 years and above, ” he said.

He says, this goes along with the mobilization of the equipment. Which the contractor needs to pay keen attention to such that both sites can have their own sets of equipment for the works to be done well and concurrently.

 
The Arua district chairman Alfred Okuonzi stressing a point

Sam Wadri Nyakua, the city mayor Arua, was biter with the engineer at the site as the engineer tried to deny that the works are being delayed by the inadequate deployment. “You are sharing the same man power. When they are at Pajulu site they are not at Odia site and when they are in Odia, this place is abandoned.

Contractor am putting it to you. I saw you arguing at the site in Odia that, man power is not your problem. It’s a big problem for you. Have two sets of workers so that when they are working there, here also work is going on. We did not want to escalate issues, but when you become uncooperative we are going to escalate this issue and you will not like it,” Nyakua warned.

 
Arua city Mayor Wadri Sam Nyakua speaking duing the joint monitoring.
 
In the contract revision, it gives an extension to Niem Establishments until 30th November 2023 to complete the project, without any additional project funds time extension at no cost or additional project money with around 40 workers deployed who keep exchanging the sites at the sites
Engineer Tiyo William Oda the district engineer says the work progress at this stage may not be affected by materials since most of the materials needed for the next phase of the works are available hence no need for any excuses for delays.
“The materials for casting the concrete is not outside Uganda, the stones are in Uganda either Arua or Nebbi, the steel is in Arua. Casting the concrete is not a big challenge what is outside the country are the steel beams and guarders. They will come at a later stage after all the processes of casting is done,” Eng. Toyo remarked.

Engineer Tiyo William Oda the district engineer explaining a point at the site on Pajulu road
 
Responding to the queries on the progress of works at the two sites at Pajulu and Odia, Eng. Fred Caku, the site Engineer for the construction of the two bridges says, the concerns over manpower are right but the as per the project design the resources are supposed to be shared. “This project, you can’t isolate one from the other. These two sites were issued under one project. Initially, the contract arrangement was that, the project resources shall be shared between the two sites.

I am the site engineer and I run the two sites. Whatever their concerns are, they are right yes, because all that is to make sure that we beat the deadline. So it’s upon me as the site engineer, according to my work plan, if I want to make sure that I first do this, then I go to finish the other site, it’s all about my work plan,” Caku responded.

He confirmed that the works at one site being done ahead of the other should not be a concern but they will shift attention to the other site soon. He estimates the works already done for the two sites under the project to be standing at around 68 percent of works done.

The current state of works at Pajulu Bridge

The joint monitoring team from the district included the RDC, Geofrey Okiswa, the district chairperson Alfred Okuonzi, the CAO, Nicholas Ogwang and some councilors, while the team from the city were led by the city Mayor Sam Wadri Nyakua.

The monitoring team is set to make another visit at the site in the first week of September to do a follow-up of the promises made by the contractor and progress of the works.

COVER PHOTO: Stakeholders during the joint monitoring of the project recently By Godwin Abedican