Kiryandongo stuck with Shs13.7b unfinished water project as works stall at 16%

Kiryandongo District together with the Ministry of Water and Environment stuck with a 13.7 billion water project which has stalled at 16.3% since its launch in September 2023.

The water project which is funded by government of Uganda with support from the World Bank under the Integrated Water Management and Development Project has stalled following the contractor’s abandonment of sites in 3 sub-counties of Mutunda, Kiryandongo and Mboira.

According to Engineer Stanley Watenga from the Ministry of Water and Environment, the contractor was advanced 30% of the contract sum amounting to 4.12 billion shillings in August 2023.

Mr Watenga noted that the works done are not commensurate to the funds advanced and the time spent which puts the project at a risk of delayed completion. He added that the Ministry has written to the Solicitor General to seek his guidance on the possibility of terminating the contract with Summit Projects Limited.

While addressing the stakeholders who convened at the District headquarters to forge a way forward for the 13.7 billion project, Jonathan Akweteireho the Deputy RDC denounced the manner in which Summit Projects Limited was awarded the multibillion project in Kiryandongo yet the company had a poor record of delivering works citing a case in which it ended in courts of law with UNRA.

He added that there was no due diligence done before Summit Projects Limited was awarded the contract.

DRDC Akweteireho also informed the stakeholders that the office of the President had carried out investigations on the contractor and discovered a lot of irregularities thereby recommending for the termination of the 13.7 billion contract in Kiryandongo.

He asserted that besides terminating the contract, the contractor must be held accountable for public funds advanced to him.

Meanwhile, David Manyuru the Sub County Chairman Mutunda attributed the challenges facing the implementation of the multibillion water project to poor coordination between the Ministry of Water and Environment and other stakeholders, especially local leaders.

Manyuru added that the local leaders cannot effectively monitor the project because of limited information and knowledge of the designs. He urged the Ministry to share the project designs and involve local leaders during monitoring exercises.

Upon completion, the project will deliver 3 solar-powered piped water systems with 29.4 Km for Mutunda, 17.92 Km for Gaspa and 14.11 Km for Nyakabale as distribution networks. Each of the three rural growth centres will also have an intensification network of 12 Km.

The project will also provide 3 water-borne toilets at the three rural growth centres and seven 5-stance VIP latrines at various schools in the district as well as 110 public stand posts.