PPDA boss calls for timely execution of government projects
PPDA executive director Benson Turamye (Left)with Mbarara Town Clerk Edward Lwanga (2nd left) and other officials tour Mbarara Central Market that is under construction last Thursday. PHOTO BY ALFRED TUMUSHABE
Mbarara- The acting executive director of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), Mr Benson Turamye, has challenged accounting officers to ensure timely execution and hand-over of government projects by contractors for proper service delivery.
Mr Turamye was last Thursday visiting government projects in Mbarara that are under construction. They included Mbarara Central Market, municipal roads, the housing facility for health workers at the regional referral hospital and a faculty building at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST).
“Poor contract management is responsible for delayed completion of works. Projects should be started and finished. We are tired of government projects that are started and abandoned,” said Mr Turamye.
During the tour, Mr Turamye asked the accounting officers to always ensure value for money.
He cited poor procurement planning, poor or lack of market assessments and failure to report non-performance of contractors as reasons for unsatisfactory performance of government entities.
Mbarara Town Clerk Edward Lwanga attributed the delayed execution of projects to delayed released of funds by government as has been the case with the ongoing reconstruction of roads in the town centre.
The MUST secretary, Mr Malcoir Byaruhanga, explained that faculty of computing and hostel projects have delayed because of slow inflow of funds and administrative reviews (contractor procurement disputes).
“These projects had issues; we had administrative reviews and we missed [delayed by] two years. Money at times comes in late and its affects the contractor,” said Mr Byaruhanga.
The reconstruction of Mbarara Town roads is expected to be completed by mid-December, while the Shs4.3b Faculty of Computing and Informatics project at MUST will be completed in 14 months’ time.
