UGX 21BN Mbarara Market Construction Contract Extended Four Times

Government has for the fourth time extended the contract for the construction of Mbarara city central market after the contractor’s failure to meet the deadline. 

The construction of the market was awarded to Roko Construction Company Limited under the World Bank Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Program (USMID).

Construction of the 21 Billion Shillings market started in 2018 and was supposed to have been completed last year in January. However, completion was again extended to February 2020 and further until the end of January 2021.

Local Government minister Raphael Magyezi, said that the contract was extended until the end of May 2021.

He said this is the last time the contractor is being favored or his contract will be cancelled and handed over to another contractor.

He said that the contractor has had understandable challenges that he has explained to his employer (government). 

Richard Mugisha, Deputy clerk Mbarara city, says they are taking the word of the minister as the immediate supervisors as they continue to be patient and hopefully the contractor meets the fourth deadline.

Donozio Kibanda, Publicity secretary Mbarara Central Market Vendors Association says they have been patient for the last three years the few months of the extension will not break them down.

But he says the government should think about compensating them for the loses they have incurred in between the extensions. 

One of the employee in Roko Construction who preferred anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the press said importing materials were delayed due to covid-19 but they have now arrived and ready to commence works.

Currently, the about 1,000 Vendors who used to operate from the central Market located along Buremba Road are operating from Independence Park along the Kabale Road.