As a way of marking 30 years of shaping the construction and infrastructure landscape, for Uganda National Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (UNBCEC) has today at a media engagement held at the Uganda Media Centre launched the start of the many activities of festivities that will characterize the celebration.
Speaking at the presser, Eng. James One Olonya, the UNBCEC President noted that, as a body, they are to put together several events to commemorate three decades of excellence in the construction industry. Among these is the inaugural Uganda Construction and Infrastructure Forum and Exhibition (UCIFE); a two-day high-level forum featuring thought leaders, experts, and stakeholders from the construction and infrastructure sector which will have President Museveni as the Chief Guest and Prof. PLO Lumumba as a keynote speaker.
“There will also be a three-day exhibition focusing on all aspects of the construction industry, including industry standards and regulations, engineering, architecture, surveying, materials, technology and innovation, heavy equipment, management solutions, real estate, and interior designs, among others. Free entry for exhibition visitors.” The twin event therefore provides an opportunity to explore cutting-edge solutions, connect with industry influencers, and engage in discussions that shape the industry’s future,”, Eng. Olonya noted.
He furthered that, a contractor’s run (which will be happening in both virtual and physical modes) will also be organized as a way of mobilizing industry stakeholders to support the improvement of emergency response assistance to road accident victims where proceeds will go towards buying hospital beds and mattresses for selected regional referral hospitals in partnership with the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Additionally, there will also be a three-day blood donation drive to ensure the availability of safe blood in hospitals for accident victims and a special souvenir edition of the Contractor magazine which will give a comprehensive look at UNABCEC’s journey, achievements, and contributions to the industry.”, concluded the UNBCEC President, Eng. James One Olonya.
Lastly, the Contractor Magazine will be published and in it will be a showcase of the work UNABCEC has done over the last 30 years.
The events are expected to attract scheduled for December 14 – 16, 2023, at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, as organized by partners Minsitry of Works and Transport, Tembo Steels, Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers (UIPE), Uganda Society of Architects (USA), among others.
In the same vein, Gen Katumba Wamala, the Minister for Transport and Works highlighted the role resilient infrastructure has in the development of a country.
“Without infrastructure, forget about economic growth. You cant develop a country without resilient infrastructure.”, he noted.
While at it, he also mentioned and officially launched the Contractors’ Run and that this will be for the cause of supporting and improving the emergency response assistance to road accident victims admitted by regional referral hospitals.
“I am therefore calling upon contractors, constructors, engineers, and the like to come take part in this run.”, furthered General Katumba.
While in a Question and Answer session, he spoke on the increasing cases of breaking bridges, like the one at Katonga and now Sezibwa saying that this is being as a result of the increasing traffic passing on them due to their high demand.
Gen. Katumab went on to say that as a ministry, to solve this are coming up with new designs to accommodate the traffic, and this will be by creating more box culverts, that are also able to withstand all weather conditions.
On the evictions on railway land, the Minister noted that the evictions are for purpose of setting up structures to ease the traffic and that as a ministry are to expand the route of the train to enable it to be able to transport people beyond Namanve and up to Kyengera routes.
Addressing the ongoing drainage challenges in the city, he revealed that KCCA and UNRA are working in the background and that they have got new and trusted contractors to handle the job at hand, as they have a plan to fix up o 87KM of the roads, inclusive of the portholes.
General Wamala concluded by adding to the words of the UNBCEC President, Eng. James One Olonya, emphasizing contractors to get into associations, be it those in water works, roads, and so forth so as to increase on their integrity being that they would be belonging to a genuine and trusted umbrella of individuals that are able to be monitored and regulated in terms of performance and output.
