A group of eight Sino truck drivers working on the Hoima City Stadium construction project are demanding payment for their work, accusing a subcontractor of withholding their wages.
The drivers, currently parked near Hass Fuel Station along Kinubi Road, claim Nexius Company a subcontractor hired by MS Summa has not paid them for a week’s work.
They were brought in from Kasese to transport marram to the construction site in Kyarwiru Cell, Mparo Ward, covering a 2.5km distance.
George Nkwasibwe, one of the drivers, says each driver is owed Shs 750,000 per day. “We were hired from Kasese, believing Nexius Company would pay us on time, but that hasn’t happened,” he said.
The drivers say they were stopped from working two weeks ago and are now struggling to survive in Hoima City, with limited parking options for their trucks.
“Every time we park on the streets, we are told to move. It’s becoming expensive to stay here. We appeal to the main contractor, MS Summa, and the government to intervene,” Nkwasibwe added.
Alfred Ayebazibwe, another driver, says they are under pressure from truck owners demanding payment.
“We are just drivers, but the truck owners want their money. We have no answers for them,” he said.
John Ntegeka urged authorities to step in. “Hoima City and the Ministry of Education should intervene.
We worked, so we deserve to be paid before they bring in new workers,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Nexius Company were unsuccessful, as the director, Patrick Aeku, did not respond to calls.
However, Murat Altun, the project manager at MS Summa, stated that payments to Nexius were made earlier this week.
“We were given an 18-month deadline to deliver the project, so we always pay our subcontractors on time. The drivers should engage their contractor,” he said.
The $129 million Hoima City Stadium project is a key part of Uganda’s preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Kenya and Tanzania.