Why should Contractors get away with shoddy Works on Ugandan Government Projects?
It has almost become common practice for Ugandan government to act with lenience towards shoddy works as though the project money was never paid to the contractor. It is important that we look at these projects as lifelines for our country's development and therefore, supervise them diligently with Ugandan interests at the very core.
Daily monitor ran a story about the same; check it on the following link.
Given the shoddy works reported on the following projects; Karuma, Isimba, Fort Portal-Hima road etc.. should we assume it is a question of laxity on the supervision side or actually impunity on the contractors. I want to believe that the terms of reference for such contracts are always clear enough and therefore, I don't see reason for government's lenience, unless otherwise, whenever a violation of such terms occur.
There should be a reasonable deterrent for shoddy work on government projects. In my opinion, I don't think that fixing cracks actually guarantees the integrity of a structure. These expenditures are either paid for or will in the long run, be indubitably paid for by Ugandan citizens and, there is no reason whatsoever-our leadership shouldn't get vigilant enough to ensure that contractors do the job right.
If we have to move forward as a country, we have to acknowledge a violation of a contact for what it is rather than sugar coating it. If the government for example unjustifiably violates the terms of reference for a given project or even a contact, it pays a surcharge to that effect. Why must our contractors receive a simple reprimand when they do otherwise? Have we instituted a deterrent that's strong enough to stop such irresponsibility from happening again? or we are yet to go without a seat, in a game of musical chairs when the music stops?
The Government is going to bail out Atiak sugar factory owner Amina Hersi at cost of sh64b. The bigger question is, if the sugar factory doesn't provide the jobs we are all clamoring for, or even if it doesn't get revamped like the government envisages, who will be held responsible? Of all the projects that our government has sunk money into through its initiatives in bid to create jobs and improve livelihoods, what efficacy can we attribute to them?
I want to believe that, for our country to do better that it is doing now, the phrase "Value for Money" must leave the papers and be reflected in real world transactions, initiatives, government expenditures and compensations..just to mention a few. it is no different than stealing, when a contractor delivers shoddy work incommensurate to an amount he/she contacted the project for. we can't afford to demonize thieves while nurturing injustice.
