By Mathew Okello & Henry Okello
TORORO
Tororo municipal technical team and the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Programme (UgIFT) inter-ministerial committee have expressed bitterness over slow works at Aturukuku Seed School in Western Division of Tororo district.
In a tough meeting held on Thursday, 16th October at the Mayor’s Parlor in Tororo Municipal Council, the contractor undertaking the construction works was given up to 30 December 2025 to complete the construction works or else face punitive measures.
The construction of the school is being undertaken by CK Associates Limited at a cost of Shs2.6billion.The construction began on 15 March 2024 and the works were expected to be complete by September 2025. The contractor has been paid all the required money to undertake the project.
The construction works now stand at 65% and to create room for completion, Tororo municipal council extended the contract to December 2025 under strict memorandum of understanding.
The UGgit inter-ministerial team is currently in Tororo municipality to monitor the progress of the three projects under UGift program which are Aturukuku Seed secondary, upgrade of Chaminula health center II to III and the completion of Uganda Cooperative College administration block. It’s only Chaminula health center III which is complete among the three projects
While on a monitoring tour in Aturukuku Seed secondary school, the inter-ministerial team learnt of several shortfalls in the project including thin installation of signage, construction of boys pit latrine next to the staff room, unleveled compound, lack trees at the site and generally slow working pace
The team leader for the inter-ministerial committee, Marvin Kabayangaba from the ministry of gender said that despite the slow works, the municipal team should have the school started through creating interim board of governors and employing voluntary staff on the ground before the school can be coded by the ministry of education.
He meanwhile thanked the municipal council team for regular monitoring of this project that has seen some tangible results despite having a careless contractor.
The Tororo Municipality Deputy Town Clerk, Okoth R. Kitong assured the team that they will pressurize the contractor to deliver the work before January next year so that the school can start preparing to host learners come 2026.
He tasked the contract technical team to ensure that the gaps highlighted by the Ugift inter-ministerial team is filled including generating of a grievance handling form at the site to tackle issues of staff abuse.
He also tasked the municipal to start daily technical monitoring of the project so that the contractor delivers within the stipulated time
Kitong said they are fighting hard for this school to start so that it can handle the education of the ever increasing municipality population.
The Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Programme (UgIFT) is a World Bank-supported initiative aimed at improving equitable and effective service delivery in local governments across Uganda. The program provides funding and support for key sectors like education, health, water and environment, micro-irrigation, and refugee support by strengthening fiscal transfers and local governance.
