Delayed bridge works anger locals

ALEBTONG.

Residents of Aloi Sub-county in Alebtong District have expressed their dissatisfaction after the contractor working on Apak Bridge extended the project for three months.
Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and Rukooge Enterprise Uganda Limited, the contractor, had earlier pledged the work would be finished by September.

Mr Jenesio Okune, a resident, of Te-cwao village, said the delays will greatly hinder their movement.

“Our children cannot access schools, we cannot access markets for our agricultural produce and we cannot access health facilities that are on the other side of the bridge,” he said.
The bridge is expected to connect people from Alebtong to Kabong, Kotido, Abim, Kalongo, Patongo and Lira towns.

Ms Susan Obero, a woman representative of Anara Parish, said although there is another route from Adwari Corner via Apala, it is not convenient to some people because it is longer.
Mr Fred Namuzi, the project manager, blamed the delay on government and floods.

“When we started the work, the volume of water kept increasing and our work came to a standstill,” Mr Namuzi said.
He said the mode of payment and change in the design of the bridge also caused the delay.

“At times when we place in our request (for funds), it takes about two three months and at times we would be lacking materials,” the project manager added

Mr Patrick Agona, the UNRA assistant engineer in charge of Lira station, said it was difficult to solve the problem since the project is directly supervised from Kampala.

“The station does not have much information. When they finish the bridge and it’s handed over to us, it then becomes our responsibility but the project is directly supervised from Kampala,” he said.