Handover of Sikuda Seed School in Busia halted due to construction defects
The handover of Sikuda Seed Secondary School in Busia District to the local community has been halted by officials from the Resident District Commissioners (RDC) Secretariat due to multiple construction defects identified at the site.
District technocrats have been directed to ensure the contractor, Kranima Eco Solutions Ltd, addresses all deficiencies before the school can be officially handed over to its end users.
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The decision followed a recent inspection of the facility, which uncovered numerous structural issues, including weak flooring and improperly fitted doors and windows.
The inspection team from the RDC Secretariat was in Busia District to monitor government projects and evaluate the performance of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs).
Sikuda Seed Secondary School, a government-funded project awarded to Kranima Eco Solutions Ltd in 2021 at a cost of shs 3.1 billion, was expected to be completed within 18 months.
However, despite two extensions, the contractor has yet to finish the work.
Dr. Sister Akiror Marygrace, Deputy Head of the RDC Secretariat, expressed disappointment at the inspection, noting that construction was still ongoing and many standards had not been met.
She ordered the district's Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to withhold the handover of the project, which was scheduled for the coming week, until all defects are rectified.
Busia District CAO, Alex Felix Majeme, criticized the contractor for poor-quality work and questioned why an extension was not requested to ensure the project's quality.
"The contractor, realizing there were only six days left in the contract period, should have sought an extension instead of rushing to complete the project in its current state," Majeme said.
Majeme also noted that the district retains shs250 million from the project budget, which could be allocated to fixing the defects.
He emphasized the importance of prioritizing quality over speed to ensure the school meets satisfactory standards before being handed over to the community.
