
BY RICHARD DRASIMAKU AND DRAMADRI FEDERICK
ARUA: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2024
For the second time during routine inspections, Hon Mario Obiga Kania, the State Minister for Lands in-charge of Urban Development has extended the deadline for completion of the two bridges on Enyau River in Arua district and Arua City.
Niem Establishment Ltd, the company that was contracted to execute the Sh5b projects has consistently fallen short of meeting the previous deadlines.
The new deadline is October 22, 2024 when a joint inspection of the bridges is expected.
The construction works started in 2022 and were supposed to end by June 30, 2024 but the cash-strapped company has been struggling to meet the expectations of both the government and the public.
That time Kania warned the company to finish the works by July 15, 2024 but following negotiations between the company and ministry of works, a three-month extension was granted.
On Friday, the minister was dismayed by the lack of drainage system to protect the bridge along Odia-Ajono road where even the contractor poured red clay soil instead of murram on either side of the road.
“Let us not take this project for granted. I know how many people have died as a result of this bridge. You find some of the bodies here, you find some in Terego whenever the river floods,” Kania said.
He appealed to the district to prepare and finish some of the works incase Niem Establishments fails to do the desired finishes.
The minister stated:” The district should move forward to ensure they prioritize the issues of maintenance because we have seen that the drainage system is deteriorating and we fear that it may affect the bridge, and also the rails which are absolutely necessary.”

Kania explained that the project periods came to an end on June 30th, 2024, but the Ministry granted an allowance for those that were not completed by the period in question for up to 30th October 2024 which also was not met.
The infrastructural projects under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development USMID program are nearing completion despite the delays.
The minister also visited the Sh1.85 billion multi-complex mini stadium at Leju Town Council, the Shs. 3Billion district headquarters, Nyara Bridge among others.
“In Terego district, most of the projects have been completed, it’s only the play field, Bridge at Nyara and the tarmacking of the road from the district headquarters to the play field. Our assessment is that the district and the contractors must work hand in hand to complete the remaining minor works before the deadline,” Kania explained.
Terego district officials express high hopes for revenue generation once the projects are commissioned and handed over to the district for use.
In Arua district, Alfred Okuonzi, the LC5 chairman told the Niem Establishment officials to replace the mud soil with murram and also cover some of the bad spots along the road to the murram site.
The Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) Program is a World funded Program that is being implemented with a World Bank/IDA credit estimated at US$ 150 million through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development whose core objective is to enhance the institutional performance of the 14 program Municipalities to improve urban service delivery.
Very informative
Well done ✅👍