KAMPALA – Parliament has directed its committee on physical infrastructure to investigate the progress on the construction of the Isimba public access bridge that connects Kayunga and Kamuli.
This is after the minister of state for minerals Peter Lokeris presented a statement on the construction of the bridge in which he noted that construction of the bridge is ongoing and it’s at 22 percent and it will be finalized in 2020.
Lokeris also noted that on November 20, a visit to the project site by the ministry led by his colleague Hon. Eng. Simon D’Ujanga (Minister of State for Energy) with some MPs including Hon. James Waluswaka (Member of Parliament – Bunyole West County, Butaleja District) and Hon. Amos Lugolobi (Member of Parliament – Ntenjeru North, Kayunga District) witnessed the ongoing works under the lsimba Public Access Bridge.
Lokeris also says that they still face a number of challenges in the construction of the bridge like land acquisition saying that the unresolved compensation claims now amount to 400 billion shillings.
James Walunswaka (Bunyole West) however denied the claims by the minister that construction of the bridge will be completed in 2020 saying on the visit he interacted with the contractor who informed him that the bridge cannot be completed unless he has been paid the 35 million dollars that was used to construct the dam.
Walunswaka further said that some of the workers are on sit down strike as they have not been paid, saying, “Even the dam which the presidents commissioned in march the contractor hasn’t been paid usd35m, for the minister to come and deceive the country that the dam will be completed in 2020. I interacted with the contractor told me they will not complete the bridge because even the money they spent on the dam hasn’t been paid.”
With Walunswaka’s claims together with concerns of other members of parliament the speaker directed the committee to carry out an oversight visit with Kadaga saying, “I think let us task our committee on physical infrastructure to follow up and give us an update.”