Mukono Municipality has suspended all roadworks undertaken by China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) due to persistent non-compliance with contract obligations, technical standards, and environmental and social safeguards.
In a statement shared via the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP) official X handle, programme communications specialist Bernadette Ndema confirmed the decision.
Ndema indicated that Mukono Town Clerk, Francis Byabagambi, wrote to CCCC’s authorised representative, Xiong Pailiang, on 7 March to formally communicate the suspension.
“The decision follows a review of the contractor’s performance and repeated failure to adhere to agreed contractual obligations, including critical environmental and social safeguard measures,” Ndema stated adding that the council previously issued warnings regarding non-compliance on 10 October 2024 and 10 January 2025.
The municipal authorities cited serious breaches, including inadequate safety measures, poor incident reporting, failure to ensure proper welfare for workers, and non-compliance with grievance redress mechanisms.
“The extent of persistent failure to comply with safeguards requirements, coupled with non-responsiveness of your team on-site, has caused growing concern,” Byabagambi wrote.
He detailed that it had been observed that there is total disregard of your contractual obligations to safeguard your workers and the public.
The decision was reportedly escalated by the death of a casual labourer, Ambrose Niwamanya, on 28 February. He was killed when a wheel loader crushed him while filling soil in a pit.
However, the contractor initially reported to the municipality that a concrete barricade had fallen on him.
A casual labourer, speaking anonymously, disputed the claim that Niwamanya had been resting behind the barricade.
They noted that public vehicles still use the construction zone despite ongoing works.
Mukono Crime Intelligence Department has since opened a death inquiry file for further investigations.
Following the incident, the contractor contributed UGX 5 million towards Niwamanya’s burial in Kabaale District.
Engineer Stephen Kibuuka of UB Consulting stressed that CCCC must improve its safety protocols, including proper induction training for workers and machinery operators.
Mukono Municipality has outlined corrective measures that CCCC must implement before the suspension is lifted.
These include conducting a full inspection of project equipment, establishing a dedicated safety team, and introducing comprehensive emergency response protocols.
The suspension affects several road projects under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP), which is coordinated by the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs (MoKCC&MA).
The impacted projects include Anthony-Kame, Kame Annex, Albert Cook Cathedral Rise, Kame-Nabuti-Katosi Road, Admin Link, Access Road, and Link Road.
The road construction contract, valued at UGX 46 billion, was to be completed within 18 months.
The programme is supported by the World Bank and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
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