UGX 9.9b earmarked to improve community livelihoods.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya handing over a contract to one of the contractors Twebaze Richard from M/s Karf Aqua Engineering Solution LTD Co.
The Local Economic Growth Project was launched in 2019 under the Ministry of Local Government, to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals, with main emphasis on No poverty, Zero hunger, Clean water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean energy.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Mr. Ben Kumumanya signed the third batch of 19 contracts for the construction of market sheds, livestock markets and gravity water schemes in ten Core Districts of Katakwi, Alebtong, Kibuku, Kabarole, Gomba, Nakaseke, Bunyangabu, Ntoronko, Kumi and Kyejonjo District where the LEGs Project is being implemented with funding from the Islamic Bank.
The contracts include eight market sheds with additional facilities that include lock ups, washrooms, day care centers, stores, security stations and vehicle parking lots. Each market is expected to accommodate about 300 vendors, eight gravity water supply and sanitation schemes both for animals and domestic use and three livestock markets which will have loading facilities, administration offices, veterinary and security stations among others.
The construction which is set to begin in February will last six months, estimated to cost Ushs. 9,920,581,381. The works will be supervised by the District Engineering teams with support from Consultants and Technical Officers from the Ministry of Works and Transport as well as the Ministry for Water and Environment.
Speaking at the signing of contract event, Kumumanya said, the LEGs Projects are playing an instrumental role in increasing income for small scale farmers in rural areas. He asked the contractors to take on the work with a spirit of Patriotism and cautioned them against shoddy work and adhere to construction standards as stipulated in the Building Control Act.
He further added urging the contractors to be vigilant to the environment, disagreeing that their efforts to solve community challenges should not create more contrary dangers.
Government has rolled out several programs, such as Parish Development Model in effort to fight poverty, this intervention is in line with component one and two of PDM which aims at improving economic production in rural areas in order to attain socio-economic transformation.
The Project Coordinator, Eng. Paul Mukasa Kasule said that the project suits Governments effort to uplift livehoods out of poverty and requested the contracts to meet timelines since the selected facilities were sensitive for the communities.
By; Kihembo Macklyne, PR Assistant
