Adolf Ayoreka | Tayari News
MBARARA – Mbarara City leaders and technocrats have been strongly warned against diverting council projects to serve their personal interests, as this hinders service delivery.
The warning was sounded by Jomo Mugabe, the Mayor of Mbarara City South Division, during the inspection and launch of three major bridges in the division on Tuesday.
The warning came when the team of councillors and technocrats had gone to launch the construction of Kakondo road box culvert, which connects the lower cell with Kidongo cells, but a section of technocrats led them to Kamisi road, saying there is also a need to have a bridge installed at Kamisi road.
“There was pulling of strings on which site we are supposed to put a bridge, yet the documents and agreements with contractors are very clear, talking about Kakondo road box culvert, not Kamisi road. Why did you first cause chaos?’ Mugabe asked.
He added, “Technocrats, you should be blamed for this mess, and this shows that when you are signing these projects, you don’t visit sites, including our engineers. This habit of diverting projects that have been passed by the council should stop”
Mugabe further revealed that there was no way he would have allowed the reconstruction of the bridge at Kamisi road that had been recently worked on.
“I cannot add more money on that bridge, yet the Kakondo bridge is very impassable unless you want me to be arrested by IGG”, said Mugabe
Gerald Tukahirwa, Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Mbarara City South division re-echoed the same, saying that he was shocked when he reached the said site and found the bridge in good condition with water flowing with ease.
“I reached Kamisi road, where I even found some councillors and residents, found the bridge in good shape with water flowing, then proceeded to Kakondo, which is currently impassable.”
He added, “What was confusing was that the document I had was reading Kakondo, where they were taking me to launch the name was Kamisi Road, but I’m happy that this has been rectified, but it should not happen again.”
Later, the team launched the construction of Kakondo road box culvert, Angelica-Kubwa bridge and Rubiri-Rwentondo bridge, which are going to cost 300 million Uganda shillings.