Shoddy Work Cited As Over Shs3bn World Bank Funded Yumbe Bridge Develops Gullies Before commissioning

YUMBE: Over Shs3 billion has already been injected into the construction of Ore bridge which is developing huge gullies before its commissioning.

The construction works of the bridge funded by the World Bank under Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP) was initially awarded to Dach Engineering Limited on November 5, 2021 at a contract sum of Shs2,309,960,844.

The design and build of Ore Bridge on River Ore and Road maintenance of 5km on either side of the bridge sub-project, awarded under procurement reference number: Yumbe DRDIP/Wrks/20-21/0016, was expected to be completed in 10 months.

But to date, there is no sign of completion at the bridge bordering Terego in Yinga village, Odupi sub-county and Yumbe district in Komo village, Odravu sub-county.

Other sources reveal that the contractor is yet to receive an outstanding payment of Shs520m, which Yumbe District has not settled but has instead taken over the project.

When contacted, Moses Chuna Kapolon, the Yumbe district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), acknowledged that the Shs520m the contractor applied for delayed to come not until Hillary Onek, the Minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees visited the site and directed the district to take over the works.

“The World Bank and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) didn’t give us the additional funding requested. When we were at the site of Ore, there was a need for an emergency completion of this project and it was argued by the engineers that to mobilize Dach Engineering Limited without any money couldn’t be possible,” Kapolon said.

“Now we were requested to help the community as a district and what was required was to back-fill both sides of the bridge. The bridge was already standing tall in the vacuum, so when we were instructed by the Minister to help the community, we embarked on the work with the community. So, we mobilized the road equipment and materials; both local and industrial materials. Unfortunately, the backfilling was done but the works were not completed.”

Kapolon said they couldn’t mobilize any further because they got exhausted due to the delay in releasing money yet the district had accumulated debts.

“Recently, two weeks ago, OPM released Shs369m for this project and yet what we are demanding to complete this project is Shs819m. So, we have a big debt which we are managing,” Kapolon stated.

Community concern

However, the current state of the bridge has caused a lot of fear among the members of the community who are both refugees and the host residents.

The locals said there are huge cracks that have developed on both sides of the backfilled murram thus exposing the area to higher chances of being washed away by floods during the rainy season.

Faiza Anguyoru, a resident of the neighboring Komo village in Yumbe district, said the continued failure to complete the bridge is putting their lives at risk.

“If this bridge is not completed, it may collapse because the backfill now has big cracks. It may collapse and cause death to us. If they wait for the approaching roads to first collapse, moving to the market and Yinga Health Centre will become very difficult for us,” Anguyoru said.

Similarly, Joyce Driwaru, a resident of Yinga village in Terego district, said: “Whenever I see a big truck approaching the bridge, I fear to come closer to it because the backfill murram may end up collapsing with me,” Driwaru remarked.

Simon Taban, a refugee in Imvepi settlement camp also shared the same sentiments, saying he is always careful while crossing the backfilled areas.

Jimmy Mandu, 14, a P.5 pupil of Oluba primary school, said schools have begun yet the approach roads on both sides have remained in a worrying state to them, who use the road during school time.

“As pupils, we are now fearing to use this bridge because of the backfill cracks. Right now, if you stand on the side of the bridge and a car passes, it shakes as if it wants to collapse due to the poorly done backfill. That alone makes me afraid of using the road,” Mandu said.

Mansur Okojia Atiku, the LC1 chairperson of Komo village, confirmed the fear locals and refugees have developed as a result of the visibly shoddy work done on the approach roads.

Atiku, who has been part of the project initiation meetings, said the bridge works started very well but later things worsened when the district took over the project from the contractor (Dach Engineering Limited).

“Even we, the local leaders, were not involved in the takeover of the project. It was the contractor who involved me as a local leader but this time when the district took over the project, we didn’t know what was taking place there, we just got it as rumors that the district took over the contract from Dach Engineering Limited. So, we are now suffering,” Atiku said.

Atiku later appealed to the government to consider allocating funds for the completion of the works so that locals can regain confidence in the project.

It is on this note that Kapolon pledged to fix the gaps as soon as additional funds are availed to the district.

“But now that we have this partial release of money, we are going to pay some of the debts and maybe if we can get additional funds coming so that we complete the works. That work is not complete, that work is still under construction. Maybe through completion, some of those gaps that you have identified will be rectified,” Kapolon promised.