Kabale municipality MP renews protest against Multiplex company Ltd over USMID road project

Kabale municipality MP renews protest against Multiplex company Ltd over USMID road project

By Byamukama Libino

Kabale municipality MP Dr. Nicholas Thaddeus Kamara has rejuvenated protests against the delayed completion of Uganda support to municipality infrastructure development (USMID) road projects that were contracted by Multiplex construction company Ltd.

In May 2021, the ministry of lands, housing and urban development, through its World Bank Funded program, handed over three road construction projects in Kabale municipality to Multiplex contractors for tarmacking. \

The roads include Rushorooza(2.049Kms), Bwankosya (0.76Km) and Bushekwire (0.34 Km).

The project worth Ugx21b was supposed to be completed before May 2022 according to the terms of the contract. However, by the time of filing this story, Multiplex had only completed 37.5% of the expected works, despite asking for contract extension three times, according to the Kabale municipality USMID program co-ordinator Alfred Ahimbisibwe.

In a meeting chaired by MP Kamara at Capricon Hotel in Kabale town on Thursday, Ahimbisibwe revealed that out of the Ugx21b, the contractor had only utilized about Ugx7b and there was little or no hopes that Multiplex would meet the last deadline extension which runs up to 31st January 2023.

It’s on this note that MP Kamara called for the immediate termination of the contract arguing that Multiplex had shown all the signs that they were unable to complete the construction projects.

MP Kamara, who in August 2022 delivered Kabale municipality’s petition to parliament over the same issue, said that he was going to rejuvenate the debate in parliament.

“This town serves not only Kabale Municipality, but also Rubanda and Rukiga districts. In future when we attain city status, these road projects will also be important for people in the entire Kigezi sub-region, and therefore the matter should be in the interest of all MPs from Kigezi,” Kamara said.

The assistant commissioner monitoring and evaluation in the ministry of lands, housing and urban development, Smith Twinamasiko said that the ministry was considering “so many” options before terminating the contract given to Multiplex, including the need for sub-contracting another company to finish the job in time.

According to Twinamasiko, the USMID program is scheduled to end in December 2023, and the World Bank would take back the unused funds if the project is not completed by that time.

Meanwhile, Multiplex company limited is facing similar protests in Mbarara city and Ntungamo municipality where the leaders have also called for termination of its contracts.

Ntungamo and Mabarara also entered into  agreement with the company in a joint venture with  the Turkish company Ditaco, to construct Major Victor Bwama road (0.95km), Galt road (0.63km), and Stanley road (0.78km) in Mbarara city at an estimated cost of Ugx22b.

In Ntungamo Municipality, the contractors are working on Kajinya-Tindibakira road (92.07km) estimated to cost Ux11.39b

All the road projects were supposed to be handed over in May 2022, but the contractor still hasn’t completed works and is seeking more extension.

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