The Monitor (Kampala)
Felix Warom Okello
3 November 2009
Arua — The Uganda National Roads Authority plans to terminate the contract signed with Zzimwe Construction Company Limited over failure to complete the gravelling of the Arua-Koboko Road, in time. The company was contracted to carry out periodic maintenance of the 79-kilometre stretch from Arua-Manibe to Koboko.
The UNRA's Station Engineer for West Nile region, Mr Jimmy Makmot, told Daily Monitor on Monday that the contractual agreement shall be terminated due to delay in the works. "We think by December, Zzimwe can no longer complete the project.
And a termination warning letter has been given to them to respond," Mr Makmot said. UNRA's decision comes after several warnings were issued to Zzimwe Construction Limited to explain the delays.
UNRA injected Shs1.8 billion for the periodical maintenance that includes major gravelling of the road. With the onset of heavy rains, vehicles stuck in the mud are a common site along the road and transport between the two areas is a nightmare. The October 21 letter by the UNRA Operations Director, Mr Ssebbugga Kimeze, says the contract shall be cancelled once the company fails to complete the project in time.
The contract agreement says the work should have been completed by December 8, 2009. UNRA Communications Officer Daniel Alinange said the slow pace of work has hindered transportation in the region. "It is not our wish that the contract should be terminated because getting new contractors takes long while people continue to suffer on bad roads," Mr Alinange said.
An official of Zzimwe Construction, Mr Samuel Semakadde, said he was not aware of the notification letter seeking cancellation of the contract. "It is better you call people from our head office, that much. I do not know," he said before hanging up. Daily Monitor has reliably learnt that due to the pressure, Zzimwe has secured some 1,000 liters of fuel to resume the work.
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