The proposed installation of street lighting on key roads in Kitgum town council has hit a snag because of procurement delays. The roads include Pager Crescent Road, Lulojo road and Corner Mission Road. The project was expected to be implemented last financial year, but it stalled after the Chief Administrative Officer was interdicted for alleged corruption.
As a result, the district contracts committee failed to identify and award the contract. The project suffered another set up after the newly appointed CAO interdicted some members of the procurement committee. Richard Ojara Okwera, Kitgum town council LC III chairman blames the delay on implementing the street lighting proposal on the district procurement committee and office of the CAO.
Ojara wonders why the district is able to award contracts for other works and refuses to award the one for installing street lights. He explains that the money for street lighting is available but they are only waiting for the firm awarded the contract to execute the work.
//Cue in: “The streetlight is before the…
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Samuel Ocaya Owen, the engineer Kitgum town council says despite the delays, they are determined to install streetlights in all parts of the town. He says that they have already secured equipments like poles and bulbs for the work. Ocaya says the town council has already paid Umeme to render the services.
He urges the district procurement committee to speed up the process of contracts so that the work can be done immediately. Ocaya says the street lights will be able to reduce cases of burglary and assaults especially in places that have been identified as black spots in the town.
Kitgum District Procurement Officer George Ocaya denies claims that they have deliberately delayed the procurement process. Ocaya says that Kitgum Town Council never specified what they needed when they informed his office about the need for streetlights.
The procurement officer says he cannot just endorse the project yet the town council has not specifying the model of the bulbs, color and accessories to be installed. He says his team is also waiting for directives from the Chief Administrative Officer to proceed with the award process.
