The ghosts that haunt Uganda National Roads Authority seem to work in overdrive, as the latest storm circling over the roads body relates to a contract recently awarded to a dubious Chinese company to carry out an upgrade on the Rukungiri- Kihihi-Ishansha-Kanungu road. The company in question is Zhongmei Engineering Group Ltd.
Its construction deal, worth Shs220b, has now been temporarily halted by after a Kabale court was successfully petitioned by seven individuals who said they wanted to stop UNRA from dealing with the Chinese contractor in the public interest, claiming Zhongmei Engineering Group Ltd is questionable. The interim order which Deputy Registrar Samuel Emokor issued will stay in place until April 3 when the main case will be heard and decided.
The court document reads in part; “An interim order is issued restraining the 1st respondent (Uganda National Roads Authority), its agents and or employees from executing a contract with Zhongmei Engineering Group Ltd for the construction of the Rukungiri-Ishasha-Kanungu Road”.
The orders are directed against UNRA and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Pubic Assets (PPDA) that are the respondents in the case.
Zhongmei is a firm which has previously been blacklisted by Parliament over accusations of corrupt tendencies and the misuse of over Shs5b meant for compensation on the Olwiyo-Gulu road project. The company however was bizarrely considered for the contract to upgrade the Rukungiri- Kihihi-Ishansha-Kanungu road, prompting Mr Grace Muhoozi, Mr Ian J.Gumisiriza, Mr Shafiq Bagabo, Mr Lauben Wensday, Mr David Kamukama, Mr Robert Abigaba and Mr Godi Ainebwona to go to court on March 7 to obtain orders against UNRA dealing with the Chinese firm.