USMID defends the alleged soddy works in Apac Municipality

2 February 2023, 5:30 pm

By Mike Okwang Ogule

Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) has issued a statement in response to a video clip of the chairperson LC1 of Market Street cell in Apac Municipality alleging shoddy works and questioning the kind of works the program has extended to the people of Apac Municipality.

Last week social media was a washed with a video of the chairperson LC1 Market street cell, Industrial ward, Atik division Apac Municipality Mr Sam Omara Omego feeling the texture of the road saying the works seems shoddy has it looked not so much compact the way it should have been.

According to the statement issued by USMID secretariat on 1st Feb 2023, “the road in the video clip is Chegere and Chawente Road under the construction of Abubaker Alnaum JV and supervised by Segamu 14 in association with Hersun consults”

The letter adds that the constructors had conducted an excavation exercise on the road under construction for commencement of drainage on the left-hand side hence breaking the loose parts of the road edge.

Richard Juuku who signed the letter for the USMID permanent secretary said the chairman thought the seemingly crumbling base was concrete or stone aggregate mixes with cement adding that the stone being used is plain crushed and is not mixed with any cement or lime which ordinarily would support cohesion, this he said per the specification of the civil works as contracted.

Mr Juuku also said the program will organise stakeholders meeting in which all the detailed technical specifications and properties of the road layers will be explained further to the local stake holders and the community.

Apac Municipal council sitting held on 21/12/2022 enquired Abubaker Alnaum JV to convene a community engagement meeting as soon as possible and disseminate to the public the processes still involved in the current development but according to the Speaker Apac Municipality Ronald Otema, no meeting of such has yet been called which to him worries the community more.

Recently during a site supervision exercise with the Apac Municipal authorities, Abubaker Alnaum JV agreed to complete the construction of the road by the end of February this year.

Abubaker construction company limited commenced their work in Apac Municipality early last year and the work was expected to reach its completion by August 2022, though the contractor was unable to beat the deadline and requested for additional months up to early 2023.

According to the company engineer Mr. Mosole Joseph the delays is attributed to the process taken to re-design and levelled the road which was not in the initial plan including high prices of commodities which also affected them.

USMID in the letter appealed for calm from the people of Apac and the general public and assures all commitment to providing Ugandans with value for money, in all projects being implemented across the 33-program implementing local governments.