NEBBI, May 2, 2024 – To compensate for the lost time which affected the completion of tarmacking 33-kilometre Alwi-Nebbi road, the Uganda National Roads Authority [ UNRA ] has given more three months to the contractor to complete the road expected to boost trade in the West Nile region.
The rehabilitation of the road planned to cost government Shs 104 billion started in Oct 2021 by China Railway 18 Bureau Group Company Limited [CR18], but the company failed to meet the project timeline due to the late release of the funds by government.
According to the UNRA officials, the road was expected to be handed over to government by July 2024 but this won’t happen because road works stalled due to late release of the funds.
UNRA’s engineer, Lawrence Ojambo told this reporter the contractor has covered almost 70 percent of the construction works and completed both earth and excavation works, and drainage systems.
He said the contractor has managed to put the final layers on the road covering 20km from Agwok trading center to Alwi Got Madi.
“We are so committed to monitoring the progress of the work on Nebbi –Alwi road and ensuring value for money,” Ojambo said.
On his part, the Deputy Project Manager CR18, Ernest Tumwesigye said because there was late release of funds, the company decided to cut the number of workers from 200 to 70 to maintain a profit margin.
“Payment was not coming in timely to the company from our employer UNRA which slowed down the progress of tarmacking the road [Nebbi –Alwi road]. There was a need for the project deadline extension,” added Tumwesigye.
During monitoring of the construction works by the district roads committees, the Nebbi Municipality Member of Parliament, Suleiman Hushim said the delay in the road has affected businesses.
“We have seen people closing their shops because of the inaccessibility of the place due to the ongoing road construction with open drainages making it hard to access business premises,” said Hushim.
He called upon CR18 to deliver quality work, noting that the same road was poorly done in 2004 and now it is being re-constructed. He threated that the area leaders will not accept a poorly done road this time.
One of the prominent business men in Nebbi town, Francis Tabu Francis claimed that the delay in the completion of the road has not only affected businesses but also claimed some lives in the area.
“The completion of the road is taking so long to be completed, many of the businesses are soon going to collapse because the sales are low because customers fear crossing open drainage systems,” he said, adding that traders are finding it hard to pay rent.
He added that the most affected public places that have been affected by the delayed road works are hotels, schools, fuel stations, walkways and marketplaces.
A taxi operator who plys the Nebbi- Pakwach road, Charles Okecha called for the quick completion of the road [ Alwi-Nebbi road section ], saying it is bumpy and dusty and therefore difficult to drive on.
“We used to take 45 minutes from Nebbi –Pakwach before the construction commenced on the road [Alwi-Nebbi road ] but now it take 2 hours,” said Okecha.
The Alwi—Nebbi road is pivotal in the West Nile region’s connectivity, linking Pakwach and Nebbi. The project aims to boost trade by enhancing the road’s capacity for traffic heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo through Goli and Vurra border posts.
https://thecooperator.news/kitgum-kidepo-road-upgrade-boosted-with-shs-450bln-loan-approval/
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