RAIN AND EQUIPMENT CHALLENGE DELAYS COMPLETION OF MVARA-OCIBA-DADAMU-OMBACI ROAD MAINTAINANCE

One of the graders under repair after it broke down. Photo by Sabir Musa

By Sabir Musa

Arua city

Arua City Council Engineering Department has attributed the delayed completion of Mvara-Ociba-Dadamu-Ombaci road maintained to challenges of equipment and rain that hinders progress of work.

The maintenance of this 5km road financed by Government of Uganda under road fund of 1-billion shillings given to local governments was launched in June with implementation period of 2-months.

Arua City Engineer, Charles Omona, explained that the department is working to complete the work within August despite challenges of rain and equipment which are hired from Arua District Local Government and other government entities.

“What we are doing now is just to spot on days when there is no rain and then we do the work. The second challenge we have is we want to move the excavator from road to site where we get marrum but that needs low-bed which we don’t have. We had engagement with Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) for assistance but their low-bed also broke down. So we either have to hire low-bed or, fortunately they are repairing our wheel loader which will be able to help us with loading of material at the site” the Engineer said

Total cost of the road maintenance is 320,000,000 shillings after Bill of Quantity was revised on advise of parliament, this considers hiring of equipment and other components.

So far, the 5km road is opened to a width of 10-meters wide, site clearance and shaping of the road are also done. By end of this month, the department hopes to complete with other components including applying marram, compacting the road, installation of culverts and stone pitching, but these will be possible when equipment required are available.

The City Councilor representing Ayivu North, Godfrey Anguyo, is hopeful that maintenance work of the road will be completed to the standard once the challenges are addressed. “Our expectation now is that once the machines are well, they will be able to continue with works and have it well finished. But so far, community has appreciated with of the road and work which has been done so we are closely monitoring this project” Anguyo said.

While speaking at the event to launch maintenance work of this road in June, Arua Resident City Commissioner, Charles Ichogor, acknowledged the equipment challenge that the city is facing and asked Members of Parliament from to lobby for equipment.

Record from Arua City Council Engineering Department indicates that about 40% of budget for roads is in the city is spent on hiring equipment every Financial Year. These equipment include grader, excavator, low-bed and roller.