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Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Government has given Multiplex and Alshamas joint venture contractors two more extra months to complete the construction of Masaka main market.
Multiplex and Alshamas joint venture contractors started the market works in February 2018, and were expected to handover the market in February 2020. The Shillings 18.45 Billion market is expected to host more than 2,000 vendors.
However, the construction works stand at about 86%. During her visit to the market on Friday, the Local Government State Minister Jenifer Namuyangu asked the contractors to use the extra two more months to complete the market so that the vendors can use it.
She advised the contractor to use the extra time to put up roller doors at the market entrance, improve the kitchen and put terrazzo on the upper flow, which was changed from a parking yard to a stall area among other things.
She also tasked the Masaka city authorities to give the first priority to vendors who were operating in the market before considering other people to get stalls in the new market. Edith Namande, one of the vendors says that the construction work has dragged on for so long.
She asks the contractor to expedite the works to allow them to resume their operations in the market. Godfrey Kayemba, the Masaka city mayor says that although there have been some delays in completion of the market, they are happy that the construction is almost complete.
Hassan Musana, the site engineer blames the delays on the continuous change in the market design to meet the vendor’s demands. He however says that they are now remaining with mechanical, electrical and some technical works which he says can be completed within the two month’s extension.
Eng. Emmanuel Mwebaze from the Local Government Ministry says that although there is a need for the contractors to expedite the construction works, they should be mindful of the quality of work they are doing, saying they will not accept the market if it does not pass the technical tests.
The market is being built under phase two of the Market and Agricultural Improvement Program (MATIPII) funded by the African Development Bank-ADB.
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