The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Dr. Patricia Achan Okiria, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with Lira City Council over the slow progress of the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructural Development – Additional Financing (USMID-AF) projects.

The USMID-AF initiative, which falls under cluster 2 and includes Apac, Lira, and Moroto districts, involves a joint venture contract between M/S Al Nuaimi Group and Abubakar Technical Services.

The contract, signed on May 10, 2021, covered the construction of six roads and two parks—Coronation Park and Children’s Park—for Shs35 billion, with an initial completion date set for August 9, 2022.

Despite extensions to May 2023 and another special dispensation extending to November 2023, the projects remain incomplete. A recent monitoring report by the Inspectorate of Government (IG) highlighted that crucial works such as the beautification of Numa Grounds and the repair of existing street lights have yet to commence, even though the program is set to end in two weeks.

While the Children’s Park is reportedly 95% complete, final touches like landscaping, grass planting, and lake sand installation are pending.

During a USMID evaluation meeting on Friday, Dr. Okiria interrogated city leaders, demanding explanations for the persistent delays and questioning why unutilized funds should be returned to the treasury. As of June 12, 2024, Lira City Council held a balance of over Shs. 11 billion in their USMID-AF MDG account.

Dr. Okiria has given the contractor until Tuesday next week to submit a detailed report on the project’s status and a plan to meet the deadline, warning that further actions will be based on the report’s content.

Project manager Freddie Owiny attributed the delays to multiple factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, delayed release of contractual documents, and the relocation of utility infrastructures like UMEME and water pipes. He also pointed to contractor incompetence and a weak contractual agreement that hinders contract termination as contributing issues.

Lira City Mayor Sam Atul echoed concerns about the competency of local contractors, urging the government to engage more capable personnel for designing and implementing such projects to ensure proper accountability.

The USMID-AF program, funded by the World Bank, aims to enhance the institutional capacity of selected municipalities and cities to improve urban service delivery.

Since the program’s inception in the financial year 2018/2019, Lira City Council has received a total of UGX 61,572,708,829. However, due to project delays and inefficiencies, significant funds have been returned to the consolidated fund each year, with Shs. 36 billion were sent back last year alone.

As the deadline approaches, stakeholders and residents await the contractor’s report and the subsequent actions by the Deputy IGG to address the prolonged delays and ensure the completion of the vital infrastructure projects.