80% of road contractors incompetent and do shoddy work - Minister

“Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), together with the Works ministry, have over the years incurred huge financial losses due to corrupt officials who were awarding contracts to companies which do not even own a wheelbarrow,” John Byabagambi, Works minister.

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Bogus. Mr Byabagambi also said majority of construction companies have forged operation certificates and have inexperienced staff

Kampala.

Works minister John Byabagambi has said eight out of every 10 construction companies in Uganda are incompetent and do shoddy works.

Mr Byabagambi said majority of construction companies have forged operation certificates, have inexperienced staff, while others do not exist. He said this has crippled the construction industry.

“This denies chance to potential and genuine companies from winning contracts,” said Mr Byabagambi on Thursday.
The minister was speaking at a workshop of Uganda National Association for Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (Unabcec) in Kampala recently.

To streamline the construction industry, Mr Byabagambi said his ministry had started scrutinising all construction companies so as to help genuine ones build their potential in the industry.
Mr Justine Ongom, the UNRA director of operations, acknowledges that many construction companies lack physical addresses, while others do not have sufficient finance and skilled labour for the work.

“Many construction companies have been winning contracts with forged documents. Some have limited financial muscle and largely depend on hiring tools and loans. This is affecting effectiveness and efficiency of work. However, we are now rectifying the loopholes,” he said.

Last month, former Works minister Abraham Byandala was arrested and charged with several counts, including abuse of office, causing financial loss, theft and influence peddling.

His arrest followed a report by the Inspector General Government (IGG) implicating the minister to the effect that he forced UNRA to sign and advance Shs24.7 billion to a non-existing construction company, Eutaw to construct the Mukono-Katosi road.

Meanwhile, Mr Byabagambi said he was finalising a policy that would compel foreign companies to recruit Ugandans in both high and low profile jobs. He said this will be done in projects financed by the Uganda government and is intended to give back to the taxpayers.

Mr Byabagambi also blamed the Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers for imposing stringent registration rules, which have scared many engineers from registering with the body.

“More than 95 per cent of our engineers are not registered because of policies that require four years of experience. This should be amended to allow every trained engineer to register without necessarily waiting for the four years,” he said.

Mr Jonathan Wanzira, the Unabcec chairman, said they would construct an engineering training centre in Kimira village, Kyabatanza Sub-county in Luweero District to improve engineering skills.

“Many times tools get spoilt because people using them lack basic skills. We can only address such challenges by giving skills to people who are in the construction industry but lacking professional skills,” he added.