Kampala — Roko Construction Ltd and the engineers supervising the Pension Towers face suspension over the death of seven workers.

The parties have to explain the cause of the November 14 collapse of the retaining wall of the foundation of Pension Towers, the building project being developed by the National Social Security Fund on Lumumba Avenue in Kampala.

A joint investigation committee constituted by the Uganda Society of Architects and Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers has indicated that initial findings have indicted Roko, the project lead consultants - Ssentoogo & Partners, the structural engineers Sseka Associates and the designers- Arch Design Ltd, for collapse of the retaining wall of the Shs120 billion building project.

The committee has given the three companies a 14-day ultimatum to defend themselves or have their engineers and architects' practicing certificates withdrawn. "The Committee (investigating) believes that you contributed significantly to the above accident and asks you to show cause why you should not be disciplined," Mr Anania Mbabazi, the chief investigator wrote in an October 23 letter also copied to the Minister of Works, Mr John Nasasira and the NSSF Managing Director, Mr David Chandi Jamwa.

Mr Mbabazi told Daily Monitor by telephone yesterday: "We shall withdraw their certificates with effect from November 1, if they fail to comply with our deadline," adding, "This is with in our mandate. According to the letter, also signed by Mr George William Katatumba, an architect and alternative investigation committee chairman, the investigators will finish work within four weeks and publish their findings. Both Roko Managing Director Dragomir Lakic and Sseka Associates Chairman John Ssenfuma confirmed receiving the letter.

Mr Ssenfuma, a former dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Makerere University said, "he had nothing to say" but Mr Lakic dismissed as rubbish the committee ultimatum. "Who are they are? We cannot dance to their whims. We cannot be directed," Mr Lakic told Daily Monitor by telephone. But Mr Mbabazi warned that Roko faces consequences. "They are joking," he said. "We shall show them because they think we don't know that they have [architects and engineers] who are working without license," he said.

Mr Mbabazi said initial findings of the committee indicate that Roko has been using unqualified engineers who have been managing many of the company's construction sites. He said the investigators would recommend to the Public Procurement and Disposal Authority to suspend Roko, Seka Associates and Ssentoogo & Partners, "not to participate in any future bidding process" if the cant explain the anomalies on the NSSF Pension Towers project.

The October 14 accident is also being investigated by the Police CID homicide section which on October 16 interrogated the two Roko site managers- Nesovic Radovam and his colleague Godfrey Galla. The police homicide section normally investigates cases of murder.

The investigators also want Mr Jamwa and NSSF project manager Innocent Acheng, to explain to the investigating team why Roko was selected. NSSF Board Chairman Edward Gaamuwa said yesterday, "Due diligence was done and everyone knows that Roko is a big company".