Safiyu Mafabi, the Chairperson Mbale Elders Forum told the meeting that the public has lost confidence Dot Services because of shoddy work on Soroti road. He says that they got concerned when they received news that Dot Services had won the contract to work on the two roads in the city.
Dot Services
has come under the spot over the implementation of road works in Mbale City under
the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development- USMID project. In
November last year, the government through the Lands, Housing and Urban Development
Ministry contracted Dot Services to undertake the reconstruction of Naboa road
and Cathedral Avenue at over Shillings 16 billion.
However,
some of the residents claim that Dot Services has a bad track record and wonder
how it won the contract for the two roads. They claim that the company had challenges
in its previous contracts mainly on the Mbale-Tirinyi-Nakalama road,
Rukungiri-Kanungu-Osaka Road, Kigumba-Bulima Road, Kyenjojo-KagadiKabwoya Road,
Fort Portal-Hoima and Mbale-Soroti road and was accused by Uganda National
Roads Authority for doing shoddy work.
This came up
during the second progress review meeting for the construction of the two roads
held at the company site camp in Mbale city on Wednesday. Safiyu Mafabi, the
Chairperson Mbale Elders Forum told the meeting that the public has lost
confidence in Dot Services because of their shoddy work on Soroti road. He says
that they got concerned when they received news that Dot Services had won the
contract to work on the two roads in the city.
//Cue in: “And for us when…
Cue out:…confidence in them,”//
Hakim Watenyeli, a member of Mbale Municipal Development Forum, says they have
reservations because of the company’s past experience. He says the company has
a bad reputation and carries a huge burden to improve its image.
//Cue in: “Our worries were…
Cue out:…than Tirinyi road”//
Dr. Engineer Godfrey Mwesige, the Project Manager from UB Consultants says
despite the company’s previous record, he expects better this round.
//Cue in: “We cannot…
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have the best,”//
Eng. Emmanuel Tom Ojuka, a municipal Infrastructure Engineer in the Ministry of
Lands, Housing and Urban Development told the Dot services officials that
people are closely monitoring the roads project in Mbale and they expect better
results. He says there shouldn’t be any excuse
on the part of the company but to deliver to people’s expectations.
Mario Christobal, the Project Manager Dot Services, said the works are moving
with the exception of a few challenges like the relocation of utilities and
rains. He promised to deliver to their employer’s expectations. Pamela
Watuwa, the Mbale City Resident City Commissioner, said that she expects value
for money that has been invested in the project.
//Cue in: “But the value of the Money
Cue out:…deliver it for Mbale City as well,”//
Last year, the Physical Infrastructure Committee of parliament protested when
the Works and Transport Minister, General
Katumba Wamala revealed that the government had contracted Dot services to construct roads in
Congo.
AYUBU KIRINYA
Freelancer