In short
Fred Musoke, the site Engineer Abubaker Technical Services told URN that they are aware of the directive to correct the defects, but denied claims that they have turned a blind eye.
Abubaker Technical Services is yet to fix defects on several roads in Mbarara municipality built under the first phase of the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) project.
The defects were pointed out in December last year by a team of Anti-Corruption agency officials during an impromptu inspection of the USMID roads in Mbarara town as the part of last year's anti-corruption campaign activities.
During the visit, the team inspected Buremba, Constantino Lobo and Akiiki Nyabong roads. The team observed that some of the pavements and drainage covers were broken on the roads that were still under the defect liability period and directed the contractor to correct them.
They also observed an open manhole on MC Allister road, saying it exposes pedestrians to danger is open to misuse, saying some residents could decide to fill it with waste. They tasked the Mbarara Municipal engineers and the contractor, Abubakar Technical Services to explain why substandard material was used.
In some of the arrears it was observed that the contractor used ordinary binding wire to build the pavers making them too weak. The team directed Mbarara Municipal Authorities to ensure the defects are fixed.
However, to date nothing has been done. Fred Musoke, the site Engineer Abubaker Technical Services told URN that they are aware of the directive to correct the defects, but denied claims that they have turned a blind eye.
The Mbarara Municipal Town Clerk, Edward Lwanga told says that the recommendations that were made are genuine and that they are in touch with the contractor to fix the defects. Lwanga explained that the municipality is still holding on the retention money until the contractor corrects the defects.
//Cue in: "We still have.....
Cue out:........for rectification:"//
The 5-year World Bank funded project is intended at supporting the institutional performance and service delivery in 14 old municipalities country wide. These include Soroti, Moroto, Mbale, Arua, Gulu, Lira, Hoima, Tororo, Jinja, Masaka, Entebbe, Fort Portal, Mbarara and Kabale.
The defects were pointed out in December last year by a team of Anti-Corruption agency officials during an impromptu inspection of the USMID roads in Mbarara town as the part of last year's anti-corruption campaign activities.
During the visit, the team inspected Buremba, Constantino Lobo and Akiiki Nyabong roads. The team observed that some of the pavements and drainage covers were broken on the roads that were still under the defect liability period and directed the contractor to correct them.
They also observed an open manhole on MC Allister road, saying it exposes pedestrians to danger is open to misuse, saying some residents could decide to fill it with waste. They tasked the Mbarara Municipal engineers and the contractor, Abubakar Technical Services to explain why substandard material was used.
In some of the arrears it was observed that the contractor used ordinary binding wire to build the pavers making them too weak. The team directed Mbarara Municipal Authorities to ensure the defects are fixed.
However, to date nothing has been done. Fred Musoke, the site Engineer Abubaker Technical Services told URN that they are aware of the directive to correct the defects, but denied claims that they have turned a blind eye.
The Mbarara Municipal Town Clerk, Edward Lwanga told says that the recommendations that were made are genuine and that they are in touch with the contractor to fix the defects. Lwanga explained that the municipality is still holding on the retention money until the contractor corrects the defects.
//Cue in: "We still have.....
Cue out:........for rectification:"//
The 5-year World Bank funded project is intended at supporting the institutional performance and service delivery in 14 old municipalities country wide. These include Soroti, Moroto, Mbale, Arua, Gulu, Lira, Hoima, Tororo, Jinja, Masaka, Entebbe, Fort Portal, Mbarara and Kabale.
