Incompetent contractors blamed for slow progress of USMID projects

1 March 2023, 10:00 pm

By Denish Ongora (denish.ongora@vol.co.ug) 

Lira

Ministry of lands, housing and urban development has blamed the slow progress of Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) projects on incompetence among contractors and delay by ministry of finance to fund the project.

The communications officer in ministry of lands, Doreen Nshabohurira said most of the USMID contractors are not competent enough to run the projects which has resulted in delay in implementation of these projects.

 Addressing journalists in Lira city on the implementation of USMID projects at Pauline Hotel, Nshabohurira said most of the municipal and city leaders selected incompetent contractors to implement the project.

She further said delays by ministry of fiance to disburse project funds and shifting of utility lines had greatly affected the progress of the projects.

She also revealed that, they are in touch with government to consider extending USMID projects to benefit more municipalities and cities across the country.

USMID project is being undertaken in Arua, Lira, Gulu, Soroti, Entebbe, Mbale, Tororo, Jinja, Masaka, Hoima, Fort portal, Mbarara, Kabale and Moroto.

Meanwhile, government received another US$ 360 million from the World Bank/IDA to extend the projects to ; Kitgum, Kamuli, Mubende, Kasese, Busia, Ntungamo, Apac and Lugazi, Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe, Arua, Isingiro, Kiryandongo, Kamwenge and Lamwo for the second phase of the project.

In Lira City, there has been public outcry over slow progress in implementation of USMID projects being undertaken by Abubakar and Alnuami group.