A 0.7 kilometer tarmac road in Kagadi town is in poor state, less than three years after it was constructed. In 2007/2008 financial year government undertook the tarmacking of Kagadi Market Street in the heart of Kagadi town. Ministry of Works contracted Omega construction company Limited to undertake the construction at shillings 300 million.
But less than three years, the entire tarmac has been washed away and huge potholes have developed in the busy road.
Johnbosco Ssewanyana, Principal town clerk Kagadi town council says he is not surprised by the quick deterioration of the tarmac road saying work it was substandard.
Ssewanyana says other than putting two layers of tarmac as per the contract, the contractor only put a single layer and disappeared. He says their efforts to have Omega Construction Company Limited complete the work have been futile as the company officials continuously dodge them. Ssewanyana says that there is little they can do because their proposal to cancel the contract was over turned by the ministry that has powers over the contractor.
Ssewanyana says that town council cleared close to 200 million shillings as part payment of the contract price. William Kasaija Mugenyi, Kagadi town council LC3 Chairman is equally disappointed by the poor quality road works executed by Omega Construction Company. He vows to block any more awarding of contracts to the company in the town council and Kibaale district in general.
Eric Musana, a businessman says accidents on the road are rampant given its poor state coupled with too much dust. Musana demands that urgent steps be taken to properly fix the road. Pius Mugalasi, the Managing Director Omega construction company could neither pick nor return our calls when URN reached him for a comment. Market Street is the only tarmac road in Kagadi town.
