MINISTER HALTS CONSTRUCTION OF WOKO BRIDGE PROJECT AMIDST FUND MISMANAGEMENT

Minister of works and transport Hon Fred Byamukama together with Arua City officials and other stakeholders during his recent visit to Arua City at the controversial Woko Bridge project site in Nyio ward, Ayivu Division, Arua City (Photo by Onzoma Albert)

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

The Ministry of Works and Transport has halted the Woko Bridge construction project in Nyio Ward, Ayivu Division, following an intervention and site inspection by State Minister for Works and Transport, Hon Fred Byamukama. This action paves the way for further investigations into alleged mismanagement of the project.

His Worship Malone Avutia, the mayor of Ayivu division, confirmed this during his state of the division address, stating that the Ministry of Works and Transport has taken full control of the project and urged local leaders to comply with ministry directives.

“Since this matter is now under the minister of works and transport the work has been halted that is the status core as per now, so the honorable members of Nyio ward and our local leaders there if the members ask you about the project just tell them that the matter is now with the ministry of works and transport that should be our reply as per now, if you will go and commit yourself as a local leader in issuing other statements the mater under investigation can become yours too which I want us to avoid” he said.

The Woko box-culvert bridge project, valued at over UGX 583 million, also includes a 2-kilometer road and a borehole. It is funded by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development as a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative and is being implemented by True Star Investments Uganda Limited.

Avutia further declared that the division will not pay the contractor until the construction works of the bridge project are completed with proper documentation and inspections.

“We still have 569,748,333 million which was sent latest in our account which is still in our account unspent and I also want to inform that during the community meetings me and the town clerk stood our stand as the resolution of this council that we shall not pay the contractor any single cent until the work is complicated, it’s a one thing for the work to be done, it’s another thing for the engineer to produce the certificate but there is another thing to pay only in a condition that there is value for money” he added.

Earlier, Minister Byamukama ordered the arrest of Arua City Engineer Charles Omona and Senior Procurement Officer Jimmy Omale over alleged fund mismanagement, shoddy work, and failure to account for approximately UGX 266 million of the project funds.

City authorities had previously ordered the demolition of the bridge’s initial base due to its failure to meet required engineering standards. The arrested officials were handed over to the police and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for questioning regarding contract renewals and delayed works spanning roughly three years.

They were later released on police bond as investigations continue.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis