Two companies queried for flouting the bidding process to secure contracts for constructing roads in Mukono Municipality are yet to sign the deals.
The Government through the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs (MKCC&MA) received funding from the World Bank/International Development Association (IDA) to implement the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area-Urban Development Program (GKMA-UDP) which involves road construction.
Two companies; Stirling Civil Engineering Limited and China Communications Construction Company-CCCC were queried by fellow bidders for allegedly influencing the process.
They claimed that bid winners used bribes and collusive bidding in the process which resulted in barring qualified bidders.
However, Mukono Town Clerk, Francis Byabagambi revealed to the media that the lead procurement and disposing authority had cleared the two companies at the end of last month.
Kira Municipality was selected as the lead procurement and disposing entity for the best bidder to upgrade and reconstruct selected roads to bituminous standards within the two municipalities of Kira and Mukono.
“We have had queries raised against the selected contractors; however, they have been sorted and very soon we shall be signing agreements for the work to commence,” Byabagambi noted.
Despite the discontent by some of the bidders on the way Kira municipality has managed queries raised, the contractors are expected to sign agreements on June 6, 2024.
At Mukono Municipality, Anthony-Kame, Kame Annex, Albertcook – Cathedral Rise, Kame-Nabuti-Katosi road, Admin Link, Access Road, Link Road (8.68km) shall be upgraded.
Another stretch is Nasuuti – Nakabago – Ntawo, Bajjo-Seeta, Serado Link, Kigunga Link (9.72km).
In Kira municipality, Mbogo and Cyprian Kizito Road (9.0 km) as well as Kungu-Bivanju Road (2.3 km) shall be upgraded.
Once these roads are upgraded, they will help to reduce heavy traffic along the Kampala-Jinja highway.
Residents at Mukono have asked the government to take time and select the best contractor to produce good work.
Derrick Ssemambo, a resident at Goma says the government should take time and scrutinize the best bidders and as well thoroughly investigate matters raised against them since they are going to handle roads connecting to the busiest highway in the country.
The government loses billions of money because of the ‘poor performance of road contractors’.