Residents up in arms as government secretly commissions incomplete roads

Ntungamo: Residents in the three sub counties of Ihunga, Kibatsi and Bwongyera in Ntungamo district on Monday decried government’s move to commission incomplete roads secretly. The said roads  connect to Nyamunuka town council.

The residents say the roads were tarmacked this year but have already developed potholes and bridges have been washed away by running waters.

This is the second time residents protesting government commissioning of unfinished work.

In May this year the road from Bucence, Kamatabura, Rwanda to Nyamunuuka town council all in Kajara County which was worked on by the Ministry of Works were allegedly commissioned incomplete.

The roads were commissioned secretly without community engagement by the project contractor.

They said that the contractor, Dove Engineering Limited, had installed poor culverts and even they ignored some places that were supposed to put culverts.

Innocent Katungye, the Kamatabura village chairperson  and Lydia Mbabazi all residents of Kibatsi sub county,  say their businesses are now affected because of the pot holes  and washed way bridges that have spread all over the road.

This forced the Kajara county Member of Parliament Hon Timuzigu Michael Kamugisha, who toured the sections of the road to express concern over the shoddy work yet they have commissioned incomplete road secretly.

Timuzigu noted that he doesn’t support shoddy work and it’s upon that background that he is warning contractors against execution of shoddy work.

He said; “It’s unfortunate that Dove Engineering Limited commissioned the road secretly knowing that we shall not agree to what he did. Therefore, this contractor must be compelled to come back here to rectify the errors he did before the residents can make use of the road.”

Hon Timuzigu noted that the Ministry of Works promised to construct a good and long lasting road that will help the residents of the area who have been yearning for the said amenity for the last 10 years but nothing they have achieved yet.

However, he allays fears that he is going to face the ministry officials to compel the contractor to reconstruct the road and fix good culverts.

Eng Loy Namata, the resident Engineer had earlier told media that they were following the contract agreement and bills of quantities in implementing the Shs900M contract of 12km road.