Shs1b parade ground project stalls
A man walks past an incomplete section of the parade area at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu District. Photo by Julius Ocungi
GULU.
Gulu municipal authorities have raised concern over the delayed completion of the Shs1 billion construction of a modern parade ground at Kaunda Grounds, Bardege Division, Gulu Municipality.
The construction works undertaken by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) engineering brigade and sub-contracted by Emmaus General Workshop, began in August last year.
The construction of the 120 metres by 100 metres parade ground was meant to be completed in February this year but works has stalled for the last two months.
Gulu Municipality mayor George Labeja told Daily Monitor in an interview on Monday that the UPDF engineering brigade has not notified the municipal council why they have delayed with the construction works.
“We need an explanation from the UPDF Engineering Brigade on why this project has taken longer than it should,” Mr Labeja said.
Maj Peter Seku Kidemuka, the 4th Division engineering regiment commander, however, blamed delayed release of funds and limited machinery for the delay.
Maj Kidemuka, however, noted that the government had sorted the financial problem and released Shs285 million to complete access roads around the parade grounds.
“We are already done with three quarter of the work, what is left is only one quarter for the next phase which will be completed in the next one month. The works left requires only fixing pavers, tarmacking access roads and matching areas,” Maj Kidemuka said.
Kaunda Grounds, which was named after former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, has been the main venue for hosting district and national events in Gulu.
The venue hosted last year’s national Independence celebrations.
