In a straightforward and unforgiving manner, a senior engineer working on the Uganda Support to Municipality Infrastructure Development Additional Financing (USMID) project, which is backed by the World Bank, issued a stern warning. The message was clear: poor-quality projects are in danger of not being paid for or commissioned.
This warning comes as the $360 million USMID project approaches its December closing date, leaving no room for shoddy work. The project encompasses various initiatives, including road construction, market upgrades, and community center construction, spanning across 30 districts in Uganda.
During an inspection of a USMID project worth Shs14 billion in Kiryandongo District, Ms. Olive Nalugo, a senior engineer with USMID, left no room for ambiguity. She insisted that all contractors across the 30 districts must adhere to the agreed-upon work standards. Failing to meet these standards would result in projects not being commissioned or paid.
Ms. Nalugo emphasized the importance of quality, encouraging the communities benefiting from these projects to take care of and utilize them for their short-term and long-term well-being.
Furthermore, she urged these communities to actively participate in ensuring that projects meet the agreed standards to avoid wasting time on substandard efforts.
Projects under USMID have a history of facing challenges, with contractors frequently missing deadlines and failing to meet quality requirements. Delayed commissioning of such projects has resulted in increased costs and time wastage.
According to Mr. Emmanuel Nyonzima, the district engineer of Kiryandongo, the district received over Shs14 billion for various road projects and the construction of two sports pitches. However, the district authorities are yet to secure land titles for the pitches’ construction, potentially causing further issues down the road.
Mr. Gonzaga Mayanja, the Commissioner of Monitoring and Evaluation in the Office of the Prime Minister, emphasized the importance of obtaining land titles to prevent potential disruptions.
While some road projects have been completed and are open for use, others are still in progress.
The USMID project, a collaboration between USMID and the government, aims to enhance infrastructure and service delivery in municipalities, particularly those hosting refugees. However, as the project’s end date approaches, substandard work is no longer acceptable, and contractors have been put on notice.
