Lira University top management team inspecting the progress of work by NEC. Photo by Simon Eluk
By Simon Eluk
Lira: The National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the commercial arm of the Ministry of Defence under Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has taken over the construction of a shs16.6bn administration block at Lira University after the firm hired to accomplish the work failed to deliver.
The University`s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng said NEC took over the site four months ago and expects the works to be completed shortly and handed over to the University.
In 2018 BMK Group was hired to do the construction works and deliver the hand over in 2021, but the plan was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Ogwal Okeng.
Contract expires
The University offered an extension of two years for the company to accomplish the work but they failed.
However, Patrick Opio, the University’s Senior Communication Officer, said the extension expired in September 2023, but there was nothing tangible on the ground.
He added that they would have terminated the contract but had to let it end naturally to avoid legal implications.
“We have been lucky to go through all the legal aspects and allow the contractor to fail and the contract expired naturally.”
Opio said BMK abandoned their materials at the site and started demanding payment for the material from the university.
“It was not possible because what the University wanted was a fully completed building but not building materials,” Opio said.
He said the contract was renewed twice but the contractor still failed to complete the work, forcing the management to procure the services of NEC, and they are expected to complete the work in nine months.
“So right now they are doing a very good job…we are impressed with what they are doing,” Opio added.
The site engineer who only identified himself as Lt. Aggrey, said they received the site in January and expect to finish in January 2025.
“So far we are at 30% and we are expectant and hopeful to finish the work next year in January,” he added.
The chairperson of the University council, David Geoffrey Opio Okello, said they need the facility so that the University begins to look like an institution for higher education.
Okello said the building was looking unfriendly but he was happy that something had started moving and that within a short time, they would have a better facility.
Poor cash flow
Prof. Ogwal also blamed the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development for delaying the project by giving them a meager shs2.5bn every financial year.
Prof Ogwal Okeng said as a result of the small office space sometimes he has no option but to squeeze in or look for another space within the university.
“I am praying that even some of us who are left with some few months to leave, we want that building completed and handed over before I leave,” he said.
When completed, the three-storied block will have an office space for the President, chancellor, vice chancellor, university secretary, academic registrar, Bursar, and dean of students, and a banking hall among others.
All attempts by GNNA reporter to reach out to Jamil Mawanga the Executive Director of BMK through phone calls and WhatsApp messages did yield any results as he could not respond.
