Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama has ordered China Railway Seventh group Company Limited (CRSG), a Chinese firm that was contracted to construct the 47 Kilometre Biiso-Masindi road, to ensure that the construction work is finished by February 2027.
Byamukama issued the Directive while inspecting the road on Thursday.
The road is part of the broader critical oil roads currently being constructed in the Bunyoro sub region, and the entire package covers 106 km in total, featuring the Masindi–Biiso (47 km), Kabaale–Kiziranfumbi, and Hohwa–Nyairongo–Kyarushesha–Butoole roads. The total cost is 504 billion shillings.
The contract for the road construction works was awarded in 2019 to China Railway Seventh Group Company limited which later subcontracted it to STC East Africa Investment Limited.
Construction was initially to be completed in 2022 but repeated extensions and financial constraints hampered its completion. The contractor abandoned the work citing unpaid arrears of 120 billion shillings.
According to Byamukama, the road project is long overdue, noting that it was supposed to have been completed within a period of three years. He added that the government had embarked on finishing all road projects that had stalled for long.
Byamukama also noted that his office had launched investigations to ascertain circumstances under which the road project was diverted from passing through the community of Biiso to Busingiro hill in Biiso Sub County.
He explained that the diversion had delayed and increased costs of finishing the road work.
He further noted that his office had been informed that some Buliisa and Masindi district authorities had allegedly connived with engineers to have the road diverted either to secure compensation or to ensure the sale of rocks to the contractor.
He warned that the allegations would be investigated and those found being behind the diversion would be apprehended.
He stated that area residents had complained to him that the contractor had blocked and destroyed several water sources. “How do you block and destroy water sources?” asked Byamukama. “We can’t allow our people suffer just because the contractor has destroyed their water sources because of the project. Let the contractor address the challenges so that people can access their water sources.”
Wang Qiang, the project manager stated that the road project had reached 90 percent completion noting that the remaining works would be accomplished by the end of this year.
Quiang attributed the delays in completing the road project in time due to challenges of land acquisition and delayed release of funds by the government.
Kenneth Kiiza Nyendwoha, the Bujenje County Member of Parliament noted that once completed, the road would significantly enhance the transportation of agricultural products to market centers and improve connectivity between Masindi and Buliisa districts.