Empower Local Contractors - Obua tells Alebtong DLG

By Frank Oyugi

Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua has appealed to the procurement department of Alebtong district local government to consider homebased business men for contracts in the district.

Obua says just like the country has embraced the national spirit of Buy Uganda Build Uganda-BUBU, it is imperative that the local governments build the capacity of indigenous business men by awarding them contracts if they have competent firms.

Alebtong has not reached the level of United States of America to be donating money, must someone travel for 300kms to construct a toilet in Amugu? Obua charged.

Obua, also the Ajuri county member parliament was on Monday speaking in Ocom Village in Amugu Sub County where he officiated at the launch of Amugu seed secondary school.

Africa constructions and contractors Limited was a awarded a contract to a tune of 897m shillings to construct the seed school and according to David Puce, Alebtong district engineer, the construction will last for a period of three months.

In his address to the locals, the minister appealed to the contractor to ensure that they consider skilled persons in the community for jobs at the construction site and to also buy materials such as bricks from within the local community to boost the local economy of the locals.

Among the structures that shall be built at the seed school include two classroom blocks of two doors each which will accommodate students from S1-S4, latrines for both students and teachers as well as a twin staff house.

However Obua wondered why a compute laboratory was not considered as it is the case in most seed schools and pledged to follow up with the ministry of education and sports.

Amugu is the fourth seed secondary school in Ajuri after Angeta, Awei and Adwir making it the only constituency in the country with the highest number(4) of seed schools in the country.

Speaking at the same event, Dorcus Acen, the district woman Member of Parliament commended minister Obua for his able representation and lobbying for the seed schools.

MP Acen lauded the community who without any resistance contributed shillings 25m that was used to purchase five acres of land for the construction of the seed school.

She called on parents to ensure their children enroll for secondary education once the school is fully constructed. The seed school will however be constructed in a phased manner.

David Kennedy Odongo,the LCV chairperson said he was delighted that the school has come to fruition adding that some unscrupulous politicians went on spreading propaganda that the school would not be built.

Odongo explained that as a district they were fully committed to construct the seed school but the delay was because it took long for a decision to be taken on the suitable site.