Residents of Kikamulo Sub County in Nakaseke have rejected the newly erected Kapeke-Kireta power line citing shoddy work. UMEME contracted Forest city Technical and Engineering Company Limited to erect the line at undisclosed amount of money. Work on the line is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
However, more than 40 residents of Kikamulo have written to the energy and mineral developments ministry to halt payment of the company accusing it of breach of contract and shoddy work. They accuse the contractor of taking two years to complete the three kilometer power line instead of six months as it was agreed in the contract.
Ronald Ssebuyungo, the lead petitioner and vice chairman of Kikamulo Sub County says that according to the approved project plan, the high voltage and low voltage cables were supposed to be fixed on poles 50 meters apart, but the company changed the measurement to 100 meters to use few poles. He says that due to the long distance between the poles, the wires have bent making contact with trees and banana suckers which endangers the lives of residents.
Ssebuyungo adds that instead of the engineers fixing stay wires in the ground to hold the poles firm they tied them on coffee and eucalyptus trees which can be cut any time and collapse with the poles. Peter Ssenkosi, the LC I chairman Kireta village accuses the firm of installing a small capacity transformer to supply both residents and businesses in the area.
He explains that the company was expected to install a transformer of 50 Kilo Volt Ampere but instead installed the one of 25 KVA. Ssenkosi adds that the company only installed a single phase line instead of three that was put in the contract. In their petition dated 13th December 2011that URN has obtained a copy, residents have appealed to area members of parliament ministers Syda Bbumba and Rose Namayanja and Nakaseke chief administrative officer Joyce Namboozo to investigate the matter and block payment of the contractor.
Both UMEME and Forest City Company have not yet responded on the accusations as they could not be reached by our reporter. The known phone number of forest city Manager was switched off when our reporter tried reaching them for a comment.
