Authorities in Masindi District have issued a two-week ultimatum to CMD Investments Limited to complete outstanding works on the long-delayed Kijunjubwa Seed Secondary School project, escalating pressure on the contractor over a project that is now nearly two years behind schedule.
The directive was issued during a tense site meeting held on June 1 and chaired by Masindi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Darius Nandida, following mounting concerns from district leaders and residents over the stalled construction.
Speaking after the meeting, Nandida said district authorities had resolved that the contractor must immediately engage specialized subcontractors to accelerate the installation of water and electricity systems, which remain incomplete despite the project’s advanced timeline.
“We observed that the contractor was significantly behind schedule. The meeting directed CMD Investments to hire subcontractors for water and electricity works within two weeks. These subcontractors will be paid directly by the district before any remaining funds are returned to the treasury,” Nandida said.
He added that the contractor had also been instructed to concentrate on finishing other pending works, including painting, landscaping and compound development, to ensure the project is completed within the agreed timeframe.
The Kijunjubwa Seed Secondary School project was launched in January 2023 under the government’s Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) Programme, which is funded by the World Bank. The project was budgeted at UGX 3.3 billion and was expected to be completed within 18 months, with handover scheduled for July 16, 2024.
However, despite receiving approximately UGX 1.7 billion, CMD Investments has yet to complete the works, raising concerns among local leaders, parents and education stakeholders.
The project includes the construction of an administration block, classroom blocks, staff houses, rainwater harvesting systems and the leveling of a football pitch.
Gerald Ahumuza, the chairperson of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), said the prolonged delay has left learners studying in structures that have already been condemned, posing safety concerns.
“We are worried about the conditions under which our children are studying. The new facilities are urgently needed,” Ahumuza said.
Kijunjubwa Town Council Mayor Jus Yahya called for the immediate completion of the project, saying modern learning infrastructure is critical to improving educational outcomes in the area.
CMD Investments Site Engineer Francis Ayena acknowledged that construction had fallen behind schedule, attributing the delays to a late project start after the contract was signed.
The latest ultimatum comes nearly two years after Masindi District Chief Administrative Officer Tappy Namulondo wrote to the company’s directors in August 2024 ordering them to vacate the site for failure to fulfill contractual obligations, a move intended to pave the way for a replacement contractor.
District leaders say the next two weeks will be critical in determining whether CMD Investments can complete the project or whether more drastic action will be required to safeguard public funds and deliver the long-awaited school to the community.