WOKO BRIDGE: RESIDENTS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SHS256M RELEASED TO CONTRACTOR

Workers on site excavating condemned works at Woko Bridge. Photo// Dramadri Federick

By Dramadri Federick

Arua City

Communities in Nyio Cell, Nyio Ward, Ayivu Division in Arua City, are demanding accountability for Shs256 million released for the construction of Woko Bridge after the works were ordered to be demolished and reconstructed over concerns about their quality.

The bridge is part of a broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development following the establishment of a multi-billion-shilling power substation in the area.

The initiative comprises the construction of Woko Bridge under a three-month contract valued at Shs583.53 million, construction of a community borehole at Shs38.95 million, and gravelling of two kilometers of the Muni–Ocoko Road across Woko Bridge at Shs214.679 million.

Florence Sina the area councilor Nyio ward said the contractor reported on sight in 2025 after receiving the Shs99 million and wonders how the rest of the certificate for the Shs166 million was cleared and paid yet there was no work done on ground by the contractor.

“The contractor stepped foot at the site after receiving the first funds and told us that he used the Shs99million for earth works. How was he paid Shs166 million yet they told us that it was admeasured contract which should have been paid after works are done? “

However, residents say implementation of the projects has been characterized by delays, concerns over workmanship and inadequate community involvement.

Since work on the bridge began in 2025, Ayivu Division has paid the contractor Shs256 million in two phases—Shs99 million in October 2025 and a further Shs166 million in December 2025.

The payments are now under scrutiny after concerns raised over the quality of materials and workmanship prompted the Arua City Engineering Department to order the contractor to remove and redo sections of the bridge.

Jimmy Dramadri, Secretary for Security in Nio Cell, says residents are concerned about the implementation of the projects since the contracts were awarded to True Star Investments Uganda Limited between June and July.

Dramadri says the community was not adequately involved in monitoring the projects and is demanding an account of the funds already released.

He also questions the quality of construction materials used at the bridge. “The contractor was using 12mm iron bars for the construction of the bridge. When we questioned him, he said they officially measured 11.5mm, but the city engineers reported that they were 10mm. I asked him how you can use 11mm iron bars to construct a bridge,” Dramadri said.

Asianzu William the LCI chairman of Nio Cell says the contractor was supposed to complete that works in 2025 but now it’s coming to a year when nothing has been done, “the work was meant for three months but what is happening we are not happy about it”.

However, Titus Acewere, the contractor and owner of True Star Investments Uganda Limited, rejects responsibility for the delays.

Acewere instead attributes the delays to disagreements over the design, as well as delays in supervision and approvals by the Arua City engineering team.

“The two months went without doing any single work because we failed to agree on the design. So I thought the works would be ready by October 30th. The works will be ready by December. We have done the redesigning,” Acewere said.

Arua RCC Betty Akello Otecat Interface with the Contractors team and local community leaders. Photo// Dramadri Federick

The concerns have attracted the attention of Arua Resident City Commissioner Akello Betty Otekat, who recently visited the project site.

Otekat says her office has called for investigations into the award and implementation of the contracts.

She says the investigation will establish whether the required legal and procurement procedures were followed, including whether the necessary clearance from the Solicitor General was obtained.

“We’re not really happy. I sighted an element of corruption, where some money might have been eaten, where there’s a change of scope of works and the design right now. This is worrying because we are not sure that what is going to be done will be of high quality and within the contractual designs,” Otekat said.

Following the City Engineering Department’s directive, True Star Investments Limited excavated sections of the bridge that had already been constructed last week.

Road works and gravelling have also since commenced.

The developments have raised questions over how the Shs256 million already paid has been accounted for, who is responsible for the disputed workmanship, and whether the remaining project funds will be protected from wastage as the works are redone.

For residents, the issue goes beyond the delayed bridge.

They want Arua City authorities and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to provide a full account of the funds released, clarify the status of all three projects and ensure that future payments are tied to verified work, quality standards and measurable project milestones.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis