Construction of Shs 3.3bln seed school stalls in Masindi district

MASINDI, October 7, 2024 — Residents of Kijunjubwa Town Council in Masindi district are frustrated after CMD Investments Limited, the contractor hired to build Kijunjubwa Seed School, failed to deliver the project as stipulated in the contract.

In January 2023, the government launched the construction of the badly needed school with funding from the World Bank under the Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer [UgIFT] programme, at a cost of Shs 3.3 billion.

According to government officials, the contractor was expected to complete the project within 18 months and hand it over by July 16, 2024. However, despite the contractor receiving Shs 1.7 billion, the project remains unfinished, something that is worrying the community.

The construction plans included an administration block, staff quarters, classroom blocks, and a two-unit science laboratory, along with five stance VIP latrine blocks for boys and girls, an ICT and library block, leveling of a football ground, and installation of rainwater harvesting tanks. Reports indicate that most classroom structures are yet to be roofed.

Gerald Muhumuza, the Parents Teachers Association [PTA] Chairperson, expressed concerns about the situation, stating, “The learners at the school are studying in structures that have been condemned.”

In August, the Chief Administrative Officer Masindi district, Tappy Namulondo, wrote to the directors of CMD Investments Limited, ordering them to vacate the site due to their failure to complete the project as outlined in the agreement. This action would allow for a new contractor to take over the construction.

Francis Ayena, CMD Investments’ site engineer, acknowledged that work had stalled, attributing the delay to starting the project late after signing the contract.

Ayena noted that government issued the commencement order four months after the contract was signed, which contributed to the delays. “We can’t do much now since our contract expired and has never been renewed,” he said, adding that they are appealing for a six-month extension to complete the work.

Jus Yahya, the LC3 Chairperson of Kijunjubwa Town Council, emphasised the need for prompt completion of the project to ensure a conducive learning environment for students.

Meanwhile, Masindi LC5 Chairperson Cosmas Byaruhanga indicated that they are considering terminating the contract. “I am not happy with the contractor for failing to recruit enough workers to execute the construction,” he stated.

On the hand, Masindi District Council passed a resolution to extend CMD Investments’ contract by six months, allowing them a chance to complete the project, while acknowledging the challenges they have faced.

Seed schools are those planted in areas where, previously there was no school and are the brain-child of government as promised in the ruling National Resistance Movement[NRM] manifestos.

However government recently revealed plans to drop the policy of having a secondary school established in every sub-county due to the lack of funds and the bloated administrative units, which has made the implementation of this policy untenable.

The pronouncement was made by Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for Finance [General duties], while interfacing with Parliament’s Committee of Government Assurance to give a status report on financing the policy of constructing a seed secondary school per sub-county, a technical school per county and a public university per region as had earlier been promised.

Minister Musasizi in his submission said that the schools were programmed for implementation in a phased manner, adding that since the financial year 2018/2019, a total of 102 seed schools have been constructed with minimum staffing of at least 16 out of the 32 staff required. He said that another 126 seed schools are at advanced stages of construction, although the full implementation of the policy had hit a snag due to resource constraints.

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