A Chinese construction company that was suspended over safety and compliance issues has defied orders and resumed roadworks in Mukono.
This has raised concerns among local leaders and residents.
China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) was ordered to halt all operations under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP) on March 7.
The suspension followed persistent violations, including poor worker safety, technical shortcomings, and environmental lapses.
However, after a brief pause of just one week, part of the contractor’s team was seen back on site over the weekend.
Efforts to get a response from Mukono Town Clerk Francis Byabagambi were unsuccessful.
But Municipal Mayor Erisa Mukasa Nkoyoyo confirmed that CCCC was given two weeks to address the identified problems before resuming work.
“The town clerk is in a better position to explain why the contractor is back on site,” Nkoyoyo says.
He adds that Their representatives have been frequenting his office, and it appears political leadership was sidelined in handling this matter.
Key concerns raised in the suspension letter included a lack of proper safety measures.
The company was also accused of failing to report incidents, including a concealed worker’s death.
Other issues included poor welfare for workers and failure to comply with grievance-handling procedures.
Nkoyoyo also questioned how a major international contractor could deploy faulty machines.
He pointed out that wheel loaders without brakes or lights were being used. He also noted that unqualified workers were assigned to roles that required engineers.
Meanwhile, Bernadette Ndema, the communication specialist for the programme, previously stated that the suspension would only be lifted if the company provided a satisfactory response.
This response was to be evaluated by a joint team comprising the Municipal Council, supervising consultants, and the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs.
Mukono Central Division Chairperson Robert Peter Kabanda said some workers had been dismissed without pay. They were allegedly falsely accused of stealing fuel from site machinery.
Julius Ssemakula, a local resident, called for the intervention of the Inspector General of Government (IGG). He suspects corruption within the municipal administration.
“It’s puzzling how these issues were identified and communicated, yet the contractor is back at work under unclear circumstances,” he says.
According to Ssemakula, the municipality and the ministry must sort this out instead of fighting, or else the funders might pull out.
The affected road projects include Anthony-Kame, Kame Annex, Albert Cook Cathedral Rise, Kame-Nabuti-Katosi Road, Admin Link, Access Road, and Link Road.
The Ugx 46 billion contract was initially set for completion within 18 months.
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