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Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Rohi Services Limited has been accused of executing shoddy and delayed completion of works at St Andrew Kaggwa Seed Secondary School in Luwero district.
In 2023, the Ministry of Education and Sports contracted the company to construct classroom blocks, two science laboratories, an administrative block, toilets, a sports field and a multipurpose hall among others.
The contract award was 3.3 billion shillings and funded by the World Bank under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers project implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports. The Project was supposed to commence on 7th March 2023 and end on September,7th 2024.
However, authorities in Luwero are disappointed over project delays and shoddy work executed by the contractors.
Among the areas of concern is the Sports Field which the contractor was supposed to upgrade and plant grass at 50 million shillings to boost sports activities.
During the site monitoring by the Joint District Team led by Assistant Chief Administrative Henry Musisi this week, it was observed that the contractor unevenly graded the field before embarking on planting the grass.
“Uneven surface could lead to issues like poor drainage and potentially increase risks of injuries for students during sports. So I direct you to stop planting the grass and redo the grading as per the standards” Musisi said.
The site engineer Robert Lukenge defended the works saying they intended to correct the issues after planting the grass something that district officials rejected and ordered the contractor to properly level the field before they proceeded with any other activity.
Sam Mulwana, a Member of the Board of Governors at St Andrew Kaggwa Seed Secondary School, said that earlier on the company was also faulted for using uncertified building materials which could affect the standard of classroom blocks.
Richard Bwabye, the Luwero Resident District Commissioner added that the contractor is executing work in a rush because he is behind the schedule for the project something they won’t accept.
Bwabye added that as the project expires, the contractor is yet to do finishing works at the classroom blocks and the site looks abandoned in the bushes.
Bwabye added that they are disappointed with the Ministry of Education and Sports for sourcing contractors outside the district and awarding them multiple projects something that affects completion on time.
John Ariko Francis the Director of Rohi Services Limited admitted the delays and has applied for an extension of the project for the next five months to enable him to complete the works.
Ariko says that the project currently stands at 80% and they need more time to complete it. The district has already paid 70% of the project funds to the company.
Ariko cited the scarcity of building materials and weather conditions among others as grounds for delays hence the request for an extension of the time for completion.
But Erastus Kibirango the LCV Chairperson of Luwero district says that they are disappointed with the company and they recommend an extension of only three months for him to complete the project.
Kibirango added that the contractor has repeatedly ignored district recommendations which include sub-contracting the works to competent local companies after learning that the firm is overwhelmed and lacks enough funds to execute projects in three districts where it was awarded contracts.
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