Construction work on the long-awaited National Social Security Fund’s (NSSF) $110 million Pension Towers development begins in March after selection of a Chinese civil contractor to undertake the work. China railway Construction Engineering Group won the development bid after beating 16 construction firms to the deal, including renown home company Roko Construction which executed the first phase of the project. They shall undertake the project under the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) government policy. NSSF managing Director Richard Byarugaba said a requirement for contractor finance eliminated local companies that could have been technically capable but lacked financially capacity. “Giving a Ugandan firm contract to undertake the work would have been desirable but we needed a firm that could finance construction of a Shs300bn project from their own resources due to the fact that we shall not advance money,” he said. Architectural, civil and structural plus electrical and mechanical engineering sub contracts, shall be handled by local firms. Architectural firm Sentongo & Partners retained the Architectural design contract while SurveCon Associates are retained as quantity surveyors for the project. Seka Associates are the Civil and Structural engineers and Whole Multiconsults shall oversee the electrical and mechanical works component. The $110bn price tag includes the cost of finance. Chinese main contractor has 38 months including a two months’ contingency period to hand over the 75,000 square meter building spread across 32 levels. The Pension Towers will be among the tallest buildings in the country. Trade union leaders and workers who talked to The Workers Eye expressed their views saying the project is overdue. They called on the NSSF to supervise the project seriously to ensure sub-standard shoddy work is not undertaken. NSSF is expected to continue playing a significant role in the real estate sector with $600m earmarked for investment in commercial and residential building. They will also revive plans for the delayed low-cost housing developments in Nsimbe and Temangalo projects later in the year. The developments come after Workers Member of Parliament Hon Sam Lyomoki tabled this month a Bill in the House seeking amendment in the NSSF Act to allow it introduce more products under the projects undertaken. (Story picked from The Workers Eye, a monthly magazine on labor-related issues). For comments, call or text us on 0752510225.
