Parliament Freezes Payments to Roko Over Construction Delays

The Ugandan Parliament has suspended payments to Roko Construction Company, the firm responsible for building the new parliamentary chambers. This decision follows concerns over delays in the construction of the Sh278 billion project. During a plenary session on October 16, 2024, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among directed the Parliamentary Commission to stop any further payments to the company. Instead, the commission will now make payments directly to the suppliers of raw materials for the project.

Speaker Among emphasized that no further funds should be disbursed to Roko until the pending work is addressed. She explained that the suppliers will be paid so they can fix the remaining issues. Among noted that while the current commission inherited the project from previous leadership, the responsibility still lies with Parliament to ensure its completion. She mentioned that MP Francis Mwijukye was part of the previous commission that handled the contract.

Mwijukye acknowledged this, adding that the project had been inherited from a commission that included current state minister for sports Peter Ogwang and Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua. Obua defended the previous commission’s record, pointing to the successful completion of other projects, including a multi-layered parking facility for Parliament.

The decision to halt payments to Roko follows a submission by Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, who informed MPs that the company had recently blocked MPs from accessing its offices in Kawempe, Kampala, during an oversight visit. This incident raised further concerns about the company’s handling of the project.

Roko Construction was awarded the contract to build new 600-seater parliamentary chambers in 2017, with the initial project cost set at Sh179.8 billion. The chambers, designed to accommodate the growing number of legislators—which now stands at over 528—were originally scheduled for completion by July 2021. However, in 2021, Roko encountered a financial crisis that led to the stalling of several projects, including the Parliament chambers. The delays have resulted in the overall project cost rising to over Sh500 billion.

In addition to the main chambers, the construction plans include a state of the art conference hall, a Hall of Honour, office spaces, and a modern museum. The financial difficulties faced by Roko have left much of this work unfinished.

Speaker Among has now instructed the Parliamentary Commission to present a status report on the project within two weeks, outlining the next steps for its completion. This move is intended to provide transparency and accountability regarding the delays and ensure that the project does not stall indefinitely.

Patrick Nsamba, MP for Kassanda North, voiced his frustration over the lack of progress. He expressed concern that construction activity had ceased entirely, whereas in the past, workers could be heard on site. Nsamba called for a comprehensive update from the commissioners on the current status of the project and its future direction.

Parliament’s decision to suspend payments is seen as a way to pressure Roko to address the delays and fulfill its obligations. The suspension will remain in place until the necessary materials are provided, and work resumes on the stalled project. The new chambers are vital to accommodate the growing number of legislators and to alleviate the overcrowding currently affecting parliamentary sessions.

Parliament’s efforts to ensure the project resumes without further delays remain critical as Uganda continues to expand its legislative representation. With a growing number of MPs, the need for an adequate and modern facility is becoming more urgent. The outcome of the next two weeks will be crucial in determining how the project moves forward and whether Roko Construction can meet its obligations to complete the chambers.