By Stanley Ebele
Kotido Municipal Council has given contractors undertaking the Shs1.4 billion road rehabilitation project three months deadline to complete the project.
On March 11, 2025, Kotido Municipal Council contracted Great Deeds Construction Company Ltd., Arigos Agro-Inputs Agencies, and Symphony Investment Group to refurbish nine roads, measuring 28.2 kilometres.
The roads being worked on are Mirersiae-Napuwa (2kms), Momugor-Kotyang (3.5kms), Nangayum-Kawalapei (4.1kms), Rom-rom-Nakutakwam (1.5kms), Lokochil-Kapuyon (2.1kms).
Others are Chairman road (4.8 kms), Business road (4.1kms), Lokore-Kotyang (3.8kms) and Lodipidip-Losogot-Looi (2.3kms).
The project, funded by Uganda Road Fund and Transitional Grant was initially expected to be completed by the end of June 30, 2025.
However, following a recent impromptus monitoring exercise on the progress of the road works, the authorities led by the Kotido Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Charles Ichogor it was discovered that the works were yet to be complete.
The monitoring exercise followed complaints from the residents of Central Division about substandard marram used by the contractors.
They accused the contractor marram for using laterite gravel, however, Felix Cwinyaai, the Assistant Engineer, clarified that the soil texture in Kotido Municipality necessitates the use of dead rock marram.
He stated that this type of marram has been tested and proven effective for black soils in the area.
One of the contractors who spoke on anonymity blamed the delays on the onset rains.
However, the Town Clerk Emmanuel Okaja told Radio Etoil A Karamoja that the contract has been extended by three months to enable the contractors complete the remaining works, citing delays in the procurement process.
He said that the contractors are expected to complete the works by the end of September, this year and there would be no more extension.
According Okaja, this strategic move aims to address the transportation challenges faced by residents and commuters due to the poor state of the roads.
He added that the road rehabilitation project is not only expected to boost transportation but also improve access to markets, thereby bolstering the Municipality’s economic activities.
The RDC Charles Ichogor called on the technical staff and politicians at the municipality to monitor the project to ensure value for money.
He also warned the contractors against substandard work, stating that any contractor who does shoddy work would be blacklisted.
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