Look North
Thursday, September 21, 2023
  • Home
  • Grapevine
  • News
    • Local
    • National
    • Regional
  • Business & Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Farming
  • LifeStyle
    • Celebrities
    • Fashion & Style
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
  • Our History
    • Heritage
    • Leadership
    • Military
  • People & Politics
    • Profiles
    • Talk Back
    • Viewpoints
  • Sports
Subscribe
Look North
  • Home
  • Grapevine
  • News
    • Local
    • National
    • Regional
  • Business & Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Farming
  • LifeStyle
    • Celebrities
    • Fashion & Style
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
  • Our History
    • Heritage
    • Leadership
    • Military
  • People & Politics
    • Profiles
    • Talk Back
    • Viewpoints
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
Look North
No Result
View All Result

Kitgum town roadworks stop over Shs3b debt for Pader stone quarry

So far three meetings have been held between the Chinese firm, Kitgum District and municipal leaders, and Pader District authorities to break the deadlock, but without success.

Katura Wokorach-OboibyKatura Wokorach-Oboi
July 2, 2022
in Local, News
0
Several ongoing roadworks in both Kitgum municipality and Gulu City.

Several ongoing roadworks in both Kitgum municipality and Gulu City.

24
SHARES
301
VIEWS
WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegram

KITGUM. The improvement of seven roads in Kitgum municipality have been halted after Pader District authorities closed the stone quarry for the roadworks.

The Pader authorities say they “temporarily” shut the stone excavation site in Angagura Sub-county nearly three weeks ago because the Chinese firm mining stones there had violated terms of the deal.

ALSO READPosts

Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

May 15, 2023
Mourners struggle to catch a glimpse of the UPDF chopper that had arrived with carried the remains of Col Charles Okello Engola on May 11, 2023. COURTESY PHOTO.

Lango leaders task govt to probe killing of Col Engola

May 15, 2023

Col Engola leaves UPC son to face off with Moto, Omodo Omodo

May 15, 2023

What Acholi communities, clans won and lost in Constitutional Court ruling on land

March 9, 2023

China Railway 18th Bureau Group Co Ltd is building seven roads in Central and Pandwong Divisions in Kitgum municipality, stretching some 2.8 kilometres.

The World Bank through the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) financed the Shs16.6b road construction.

The extensive excavation site on the Gulu-Kitgum highway provides stones for the firm for its ongoing roadworks in both Kitgum municipality and Gulu City.

Pader District leaders say they sealed off the quarry because the Chinese firm had failed to complete paying compensation to the residents affected by quarrying activities.

They also claim that China Railway 18th Bureau Group Co Ltd had not paid the Shs3b royalty and had also declined to sign a memorandum of understanding with the district.
Mr Justin Ocen, the Pader District vice-chairman, said in an interview that the Chinese firm had agreed with the community on a Shs240m compensation, but had advanced only Shs154m.

“They agreed in writing to complete paying the Shs86m one month after commencing the stone-mining, but the sum has not yet been paid to our people of Angagura although they started mining the stones at the beginning of this year,” he said.

Mr Ocen said the Chinese firm first approached Pader in September 2021 for permission to install mining equipment at the quarry.

He said they had agreed not to start mining the stones until agreements were reached between the district, community and China Railway 18th Bureau Group Co Ltd.

“Unfortunately, when they installed the machines, they didn’t return to complete agreements on compensating the communities, paying royalties to sub-county, district and signing an MoU,” Mr Ocen said.

“As a consequence, the district council, district executive, and technical planning committees resolved to temporarily stop the firm’s activities at the quarry,” he said.
In a handwritten letter dated June 6, Col (rtd) Fearless Obwoya, the Pader LC5 chairman, ordered the Chinese firm not to access the quarry until the issues were resolved.

“Police officers have been deployed to reinforce this because the letter was written to the company on 19th May to stop operation until the issues are settled, but they didn’t respect the letter,” he added.

At least three meetings have been held between the Chinese firm, Kitgum District and municipal leaders on the one hand and Pader District authorities on the other in a bid to break the deadlock but not much has been achieved.

Kitgum municipal mayor Richard Ojara Okwera described the meetings he attended as ‘hostile’.

China Railway 18th Bureau Group Co Ltd has now threatened to sue the Pader District over the matter.

Meanwhile, the Kitgum Municipal authorities have not paid for the Chinese firm for the construction work since April.

Mr Ayub Alikwan, the Kitgum Municipal Town Clerk, told LookNorth that the roadworks has stalled because funds for the current financial year have been exhausted.

“The contractor is demanding about Shs4b for the certification that has so far been declared. From April to date, we have not been paying anything so the contractor had to scale down on the staff; which has affected progress of the roadworks,” he said on Friday.

Mr Ayub Alikwan said the Ministry of Finance has promised to release the money in the first quarter of the new financial year that commenced July 1 in order to offset the debt and speed up the roadworks.

Tags: Kitgum townPaderroadworksstone quarry

Related Posts

Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola
Local

Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

byOur Reporter - DIGITGAL HUB
May 15, 2023
Mourners struggle to catch a glimpse of the UPDF chopper that had arrived with carried the remains of Col Charles Okello Engola on May 11, 2023. COURTESY PHOTO.
Local

Lango leaders task govt to probe killing of Col Engola

byOur Reporter - DIGITGAL HUB
May 15, 2023
Col Engola leaves UPC son to face off with Moto, Omodo Omodo
Local

Col Engola leaves UPC son to face off with Moto, Omodo Omodo

byOur Reporter - DIGITGAL HUB
May 15, 2023
The team of petitioners and interested parties during a hearing session
National

What Acholi communities, clans won and lost in Constitutional Court ruling on land

byOur Reporter - DIGITGAL HUB
March 9, 2023
Some of the assorted items donated to Okere City community by LWA
LifeStyle

How a city came to Okere village in Lango

byKAY CAROL ACHAK
January 16, 2023
Gen Salim Saleh
National

Why ‘Gen Saleh’ letter is free intelligence  for Lukwago in race for 2026

byCHRISTOPHER OKIDI
January 16, 2023

Recent News

DP President Norbert Mao (in black suit), walks to the podium at his homecoming in Gulu City, escorted by (L-R): Ms Lydia Wanyoto of NRM Women's League, NRM deputy supremo Al-hajj Moses Kigongo, and President Museveni's brother, Gen Salim Saleh.

Making sense of Mao’s new deal, political bypass and joyride with Gen Museveni 

September 9, 2023
Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

Lango mobs Lira airfield to mourn Col Engola

May 15, 2023

Categories

  • Business & Finance
  • Celebrities
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Farming
  • Health & Fitness
  • Heritage
  • Leadership
  • LifeStyle
  • Local
  • Military
  • National
  • News
  • Our History
  • People & Politics
  • Profiles
  • Regional
  • Sports
  • Talk Back
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Viewpoints

Site Navigation

  • Home
  • Advertisement
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Other Links
Look North

Look North is a dynamic, engaging, and informative online news platform for Acholi sub-region, wider northern Uganda, South Sudan, and their diaspora communities. We cover current affairs, people and politics, lifestyle, business and finance, our history, sports, health and fitness, both at local, national, regional and international levels.

© 2023 LookNorth

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Grapevine
  • News
    • Local
    • National
    • Regional
  • Business & Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Farming
  • LifeStyle
    • Celebrities
    • Fashion & Style
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
  • Our History
    • Heritage
    • Leadership
    • Military
  • People & Politics
    • Profiles
    • Talk Back
    • Viewpoints
  • Sports

© 2023 LookNorth