Shs 23b Spent On Shoddy, Delayed Work by Multiplex Company Shock MPs

Amos Tayebwa

Mbarara: There were a couple complaints raised by the Members of Parliament against Multiplex Engineering Company over the three roads that are under construction in Mbarara City where they discovered that there are shoddy works made on those roads.

Moses Ndege Bbosa, the company managing director

This was established during the committee of Parliament on Physical infrastructure to a working visit of USMID projects in Mbarara City where 2.3km of the road were contracted at shs 23b. This amount of money in the contract shocked the legislators comparing the work done on those roads. This contract comprises three roads which include Galt road, Stanley road and Major Victor Bwana all still under construction all in 2.3km.

The visit was made last week, and the committee was able to visit all the roads that are within this contract. Later after the touring of the roads, they met a team from Mbarara City Council and the team from the contractor at Mbarara City Council hall.

According to the committee members, it was established that there has been a lot of shoddy work made on these roads when they are not yet completed.

Nathan Byanyima, Member of Parliament for Bukanga East and a member of the committee was bitter to address the committee that Multiplex has done shoddy work on roads contracted in Mbarara City. Byanyima said that the work done by Multiplex Company is not worth to be talked about. That there is no value for money of the 23b according to the work so far done on the roads mentioned above.

MP Byanyima also mentioned that the work done on Stanley road, one of the roads in the same contract is at risk to be easily destroyed by the current heavy rains. “I predict that before this wet season ends, Stanley road will be already gone because it was not done in a proper way,” said MP Byanyima.

According to Dan Kimosho, the MP for Kazo County who doubles as the Chairperson for the committee of Parliament on Physical infrastructure said Multiplex people have done the work more than the time that was in the contract agreement and even beyond the acceptable time. He further noted that as a committee they are still moving up to Ntungamo and Kabale, then after there they will compile a report that they will put to parliament for consideration.

However, MP Kimosho added that they must admit that there are a number of complaints raised which include the issues about the construction of drainages, the issues on the quality of work, as a committee they will still assess and come up with a report.

It is also recalled that this project is supposed to close in December and so far the work done is almost less than 55%.

“One of the major concerns is that if we go by World Bank deadlines, the project is supposed to close in December and it is so clear that the work still needs a lot of time. Because if you really quantify the work that has been done it is not more than 55% yet the project has only one month or less to end, so I think at some point Government needs to engage with the world Bank or else you can see we are heading to a situation where the road and the other works are likely to remain incomplete” said MP Kimosho.

Kimosho also indicates that the major issue as the committee is to make a report of the progress on quality of the work on what they assess in terms of project implementation and contract, then the rest can be left to Executive to see how they can negotiate with the world bank on extensions and to see whether the contractor can finish the work.

Multiplex Engineering Company got this contract in 2021 and it was supposed to take one year according to the contracts agreement.

In October 2023, one of the world bank representative or Specialist, Phan Huyen warned Mbarara City and Multiplex team to ensure that the contract of three roads (Galt, Stanley and Major Victor Bwana) is completed between November and December 2023, that if delays continue it may cause disruptions and Mbarara City may lose another chance to get additional funds from World Bank.