Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has handed over contract documents for the construction of Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Puranga Road (191km) to two contractors; Gulsan Insaat Sanayi Turizm Nakliyat Ve Tecaret A.S. Turkey and Sadeem Al Kuwait General Trading & Contracting, Kuwait to a tune of UGX753.5 billion.
The contract signing ceremony was officiated yesterday by UNRA Executive Director Allen Kagina at the UNRA Headquarters, Nakawa
According to UNRA, the project was packaged into 2 Lots for ease of execution; Lot 1: Rwenkunye-Apac Road (90.9Km) and Lot 2: Apac – Lira –Puranga (100.1km)
The UGX 337.5 billion contract for the construction of Rwenkunye—Apac Road project – Lot 1 [90.9Km] has been given to Sadeem Al Kuwait General Trading & Contracting for a Project Construction duration of 36 months.
Meanwhile, the contract for Lot 2: Apac – Lira –Puranga (100.1km) has been offered to Gulsan Insaat Sanayi Turizm Nakliyat Ve Tecaret A.S. Turkey at a tune of UGX 416 billion for a project duration of 36 months and defects notification period of 12 months
The works by the two contractors are to be executed under the supervision of Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), a consultant engineering firm.
The construction will be bankrolled by Islamic Development Bank who on 12th March 2020 signed a loan agreement with the Government of Uganda for financing the road project. In line with the loan agreement, the procurement was conducted through International Competitive Bidding using the Guidelines for procurement of the Islamic Development Bank
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Upon completion, the upgraded Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Puranga road is expected to improve access to markets, a reduction in public transport costs and travel time saving, improve road safety, improve access to social services and the potential for induced development that will boost local economies in the project’s area of influence.
Local people will also benefit from employment opportunities working on the road sites or various economic activities such as support services. The Project on average will employ over 500 locals according to UNRA.
The road project is also expected to enhance increased inter-regional trade volumes, especially between Uganda and Southern Sudan
On land acquisition, UNRA says; “The land acquisition process is ongoing and is being managed by the UNRA In-house Team. A total of 50.68km of the Right of Way have been acquired (representing 26.5% of the total road length). By December 2020, we expect to have acquired 120Km which is 62.8% and will achieve 100% Right of Way by June 2021.”
The Rwenkunye – Apac – Lira – Puranga road (191km) is a major national road which will connect the towns of Rwenkunye, Apac, Lira, and Puranga. This road together with Puranga-Acholibur road (61.5km) and Acholibur – Musingo Road (86km) form a major regional corridor that links Uganda with South Sudan through the border point of Musingo. The Acholibur – Musingo Road (86km) was implemented by Government of Uganda and completed in May 2018. Government is in the process of securing financing for the implementation of the Puranga – Acholibur road (61.5km).
Key figures:
- Lot 1: Rwenkunye-Apac Road (90.9Km) whose cost is about UGX 337.5 billion, has been given to Sadeem Al Kuwait General Trading & Contracting for a Project construction duration of 36 months.
- Lot 2: Apac – Lira –Puranga (100.1km) has been offered to Gulsan Insaat Sanayi Turizm Nakliyat Ve Tecaret A.S. Turkey at a tune of UGX 416 billion for a project duration of 36 months and defects notification period of 12 months
