Pamela Tusimba, the project Communications Officer explaining about the said delays. Photo by Godwin Abedican.

By Godwin Abedican

Arua

The Stringent World Bank terms for project implementations have continued to delay the commencement of civil works on the construction of Koboko- Yumbe- Moyo road.

18 months since the initiation of the project which was officially flagged off on May 17, this year with contract awarded to Zhongmei Engineering Group Ltd, the works have not started due to pending approvals of plans submitted by the contractor.

While giving a status report on the project to the media on Friday August 30, 2024, Engineer Otim Alex, the project manager on the government’s side (UNRA) says, it has been a hard struggle to get a number of issues sorted which could not allow them commence with major civil works on the road.

“How you manage world bank projects is not how you manage these usual projects. There are more stringent policies, strategies and commitments. The documents required should first be approved by the bank. So, that is what is keeping the roadworks from starting, we are in a back and forth.  We have already got an approval of one of the pending issues though with some conditions, which conditions are also so stringent. However, the quarry and campsite plans have not yet been approved. That is why we are currently doing forward maintenance where machines ae working on very bad spots. We have submitted for the proposed campsite which is in Yumbe and we are now going to submit for the proposed quarry site. If that is approved, then we shall have a home,” Engineer Otim explained.

The project team leaders in a group photo after the press briefing at their offices in Koboko.
Photo by Godwin Abedican.

Pamela Tusimba, the Communications Officer for the project says since the conditions are a must to be followed, the contractor cannot be on a rush to commence major works. “As far as I know, there is no delay. From the time the contractor commenced the project with signing of the contract, he is still within the three months to mobilize. We are following due process, because, realistically, we cannot forego all these things that we are supposed to do. Surveyors are doing work, tests are being done for the water, sand, soil, rocks etc. For us to say there is a delay is when the 3 months mobilization period is over and there is nothing on the ground,” she said.

Mukalazi Edward, the site agent Zhongmei Engineering Group Ltd. assures the public of the quality of works that shall be delivered. “We have a quality management regime which is also embedded within our contract. There are certain tests that must be done on materials, tests which must be done on the work itself, there are also vetting of the employees or the contractor to mitigate the risks of bad works,” Mukalazi assured.

According Pu Qingyan, the contactors Project Manager, they have already commenced the mobilization of equipment as they await the approvals. “Once the camp site will be approved, we will start. We have our equipment in place ready for work and we shall mobilize more equipment, including also making purchase orders for new equipment,” Pu said in response to questions about preparedness equipment wise.

Pu Qingyan, the contactors Project Manager .
Photo by Godwin Abedican.

The contractor intends to ensure that the construction of the 150.8 million US dollars project takes a 4 front approach or starting points with 2 starting from Yumbe (Yumbe to Moyo, and Yumbe to Koboko) while for the other two approaches, one starts from Moyo and another starts from Koboko, all joining the two approaches from Yumbe.