CMD Investments given two weeks to complete Kijunjubwa Seed School as Buliisa leaders raise alarm over stalled Kihungya Project

Masindi: Authorities in Masindi District have issued a two-week ultimatum to CMD Investments Limited to accelerate and complete the delayed construction of Kijunjubwa Seed Secondary School in Kijunjubwa Sub-county.

The directive was issued during a tense site meeting held on Monday, June 1, 2026, and chaired by Masindi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Darius Nandinda following mounting concerns over the slow progress of the Shs3.3 billion project.

Speaking to this publication, Nandinda said district leaders resolved that the contractor must immediately engage subcontractors to handle water and electricity installations to speed up the completion of the school.

“We have observed that the contractor was behind schedule and therefore directed him to get subcontractors for water and electricity within a period of two weeks. Those subcontractors will be paid directly by the district before the money is returned to the Treasury account,” Nandinda said.

He added that the contractor had also been advised to concentrate on other remaining works including painting and landscaping of the school compound.

The government launched the construction of Kijunjubwa Seed Secondary School in January 2023 under the World Bank-funded Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) Programme at a cost of Shs3.3 billion.

The contractor was expected to complete and hand over the project by July 16, 2024. However, despite reportedly receiving more than Shs1.7 billion, the project remains incomplete, raising concern among district leaders and residents.

The project includes the construction of an administration block, classroom block, staff quarters, levelling of a football pitch and installation of rainwater harvesting tanks.

Gerald Ahumuza, the Chairperson of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), expressed concern over the welfare of learners, saying many continue to study in condemned structures.

“Our learners are studying in structures that have already been condemned. We need the project completed urgently to provide them with a safe and conducive learning environment,” Ahumuza said.

Jus Yahaya, the Kijunjubwa Town Council Mayor also emphasized the need for the contractor to expedite the works. “The prompt completion of this project is critical in ensuring a conducive learning environment for students in this area,” Yahaya noted.

Francis Ayena, the CMD Investments Ltd Site Engineer acknowledged the delay, attributing it to a late start after the contract was signed.

In August 2024, the former Masindi District Chief Administrative Officer Tappy Namulondo wrote to CMD Investments directing the company to vacate the site due to failure to complete the project within the agreed timeframe, paving the way for a possible replacement contractor.

Meanwhile, leaders in neighboring Buliisa District are raising similar concerns over another CMD Investments project, accusing the contractor of abandoning the construction of Kihungya Seed Secondary School in Kihungya Sub-county.

CMD Investments was awarded the Shs3.5 billion contract in 2023 to construct a fully-fledged seed secondary school. The project was expected to be completed within 18 months but remains unfinished.

Kenneth Tumusiime, the former LCIII Chairperson of Kihungya Sub-county, said the prolonged delay has greatly affected learners and the community. “The school was taken over by government and construction was launched on March 21, 2023. It was supposed to take only 18 months, but nearly three years later the project remains incomplete,” Tumusiime said.

He revealed that district leaders previously met the contractor and agreed on a six-month completion plan, but little progress has since been registered. “Last year we held several meetings with the contractor and district leaders. The contractor promised to complete the works within six months, but up to now nothing substantial has been done,” he added.

According to Tumusiime, the school has an enrolment of more than 400 learners who continue to face challenges due to inadequate facilities.

He appealed to the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Sports, and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to intervene and ensure the project is completed.

Nicholas Aliganyira, the former Buliisa District Education Committee Chairperson claimed that the project is currently stalled at approximately 70 percent completion despite the contractor allegedly receiving nearly all the contract funds.

“As local leaders, we are worried because funds for this project have twice been returned to the Treasury and later brought back as supplementary funding. If the money is returned for a third time, there is no guarantee it will come back,” Aliganyira said.

He faulted the district engineering team for allegedly authorizing payments amounting to nearly 99 percent of the contract value before completion of the works.

“It is irregular to pay a contractor almost all the project funds before the project is completed. Once a contractor receives nearly all the money, the incentive to finish the work reduces,” he argued.

Aliganyira further called for investigations into both the contractor and district officials involved in supervising the project.

“We want the IGG and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate this matter because public funds were meant to benefit citizens. Somebody must be held accountable if wrongdoing is established,” he said.

He added that delays in completing the school have forced some learners from Kihungya to travel long distances to access education in neighboring Biiso Town Council.

When contacted, Prof. Levi Musinguzi, the Buliisa Chief Administrative Officer confirmed that the Kihungya project had experienced delays but said the district had re-engaged the contractor and was optimistic the works would be completed before the end of the current financial year.

“It is true the project has taken long, but we have engaged the contractor and he is back on site. We hope the project will be completed before the end of this financial year to prevent the funds from being returned to the Treasury,” Musinguzi said.

The delays affecting the two seed secondary school projects have reignited concerns over contractor performance, project supervision and accountability in the implementation of government-funded education infrastructure across the Bunyoro sub-region.

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