The construction of a bridge connecting Kayunga to Kamuli districts may take longer after it emerged that 28 engineers who were meant to work on it have been barred from China following the outbreak of COVID-19 commonly known as coronavirus.
The revelation was made by Xia Nenghai, the project Manager of China International Water & Electric Company that constructed Isimba dam and is meant to construct the Kayunga-Kamuli bridge.
He was appearing before the Physical Infrastructure Committee today that is investigating claims that Shs24bn meant for the construction of the Kayunga-Kamuli bridge on Isimba dam went missing.
“In China, we have Corona virus, we have 28people isolated, they aren’t allowed to come back. We have a very serious issue, we have less workers, no money. We want the bridge to be completed by the end of this year, how we can do it with less workers and no money? Please go through the contract, if the contract gives us the entitlement, let it be real,” Nenghai said.
He added that the contractor has agreed to construct bridge at no additional cost no matter how much it is worth.
He blamed the delay of the bridge on technical and security reasons, saying that although Uganda has lost time, the contractor will deliver the bridge by the end of 2020.
