MBALE – The Uganda National Road Authority (UNRA) has urged people along Muyembe-Nakapiripirit road to stay calm and maintain peace as the contract awarded is still undergoing project review.
Eng Titus Aleper who was addressing the people on progress of the road construction on a local radio [OPG FM] in Mbale 30 July said the consultant supervisor of the project is SCET Tunisie Ltd [Tunisia] in joint venture with MBW consulting Ltd [Local firm] were still undertaking design review.
He explained that they were reviewing Topographic surveys, Soil materials [Hardness and Toughness] to establish the appropriateness and adequacy before establishing the camp to kick start the construction works required.
“I want to call for calmness from all people along Muyembe-Nakapiripirit project road, the contractor is on ground, he is carrying out minor constructions on the road to make it motorable, he is also constructing minor bridges but at the same time waiting for the ministry of Gender and social development to formally communicate to him to start the construction camp,” said Eng Aleper.
He revealed that the construction works being funded through a loan from the Islamic Development Bank to a tune of sh399.9bn kicked off in March this year and are expected to take three years up to 30 March, 2023.
He explained that a Turkish construction firm, Polat Yol Yapi, signed a contract with the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) in November 2019 to tarmac the 92.2km route of Muyembe to Nakapiripirit is already in grounds with plans to put up a camp.
“And the contractor is carrying out mobilisation as expected to commence the camp by August, so we need to be calm and give him time and I want to promise, the road will be constructed,” added Eng Aleper.
He said even as main works on the all-important 92.2KM Muyembe-Nakapiripirit road is in the final stages of kicking off, the road has been made motorable, bush clearing has taken place, bridges have been made and that trucks loaded with food harvested in farms in the region are already using it to access markets.
Although this was Polat Yol Yapi’s first contract in eastern Africa and Uganda in particular, the company has a global presence having executed similar contracts in the Middle East, Southern Africa and North America.
“And we are using Uganda as an entry point into Africa, we have done roads across with no faults and this one is going to be a road with value for money,” said Mr Edip Yenen, the project manager of the Polat Tol Yapi construction company.
Mr Pius Bagaza, a local representative of the Turkish Company M/S Polat Yol Yapi explained that although he is aware that the company is still doing forward maintenance, he is also aware that they are mobilising equipment and waiting for a letter of approval from the Ministry of Gender to establish their camp on.
“And we are on the ground, we have done bush clearing and are also making the road motor able for our people,” added Mr Bagaza.
According to UNRA the upgrading of Muyembe-Nakapiripirit road will assist in the administrative and social coverage in the region, reduce vehicle operating costs and improve social services and opportunities.
The existing road will be upgraded to class II standard paved road consisting of a certain carriageway with a width of 7.0M and a shoulder width general of 2.0M and that the carriageway and shoulder will both have asphalt concrete.
End Aleper said that the contractor is on ground and that the contractor is expected to finish the physical construction of works on time, within budget and meeting the required engineering specifications, environment and social safeguards.
