Showbizuganda

Tag: Roko Construction

  • MPs loud Roko on Quality Works at Tourism School

    MPs loud Roko on Quality Works at Tourism School

    Parliament of Uganda has applauded Roko Construction Ltd for executing a wonderful job at the Jinja City based Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI).
    UHTTI is the biggest hotel and tourism training institute in Uganda and has been undergoing reconstruction for a couple of years.

    The establishment offers diploma and certificate courses in hotel management, tourism management, pastry and bakery, and other related fields.
    The facility now bears a completely new face with modern facilities of international standards.

    While on a fact-find visit to the school this week, the MPs on the Parliamentary Committee of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities assured the top management at UHTTI of Parliament’s support towards appropriating more funds to enable the facility achieves its vision and mission.

    The lawmakers gave the assurance during their day-long inspection of UHTTI and the Source of the Nile Modern Pier currently undergoing reconstruction.

    The MP Kaberamaido County, Hon. Alfred Edakasi Elalu-Olale who led the team that comprised of lawmakers and officials from the tourism and finance ministries said ‘We are convinced that UHTTI is on the right track.’
    “What we have seen on ground is quality work done at both the hotel and the institute; we are fully convinced and satisfied that there is value for money. Roko is doing wonderful work,” he said.
    Other members included David Isabirye Aga (Jinja North), Betty Engola (Apac), Boniface Henry Okot (Northern Youth) and Herbert Tom Kinobere(Kibuku County) . They all heaped praises on Roko Construction for the quality work and high level of professionalism in executing the project that will turn around tourism fortunes in the country especially Jinja city.
    Roko is on the final touches ahead of the commissioning that is scheduled later this year.

    According to management, the Institute has been undergoing renovations, with the hotel component already at completion level and now in the 12- month defects liability period.
    The project is funded by the World Bank through the Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP).
    The Project Coordinator attached to CEDP John Mary Kyewalabye who also attended the meeting was equally happy at the quality of works executed by Roko Construction Ltd.
    The hotel cost UGX 24bn while UGX 19bn was spent on the institute.
    Upon completion, the new infrastructure is expected to increase student enrollment from the current 1,000 to at least 2000.

    The Roko Project Manager Blass welcomed the commendation from parliament. He said the move gives them motivation to continue serving Uganda diligently guided by their slogan “The Standard of Construction Excellence” in Africa, striving to deliver cost-effective construction works.
    However, according to Mps , the most critical concern is the issue of a Girls Hostel whose construction is yet to commence.

    The MPs promised to push for more funds to be included in the budget towards the construction of the hostel.
    According to the UHTTI Principal Richard Kawere, the Girls Hostel is expected to cost UGX 4bn.
    The four storied building will accommodate 676 female students. However, the hostel is not part of the scope of work that Roko is currently executing.

    The committee’s visit was to inspect the progress of the hotel and institute’s new infrastructures ahead of the planned official commissioning by President Yoweri Museveni later this year.
    UHTTI, also known as Crested Hotel, is a government-owned tertiary institution established in 2015 by an Act of Parliament, and aims to provide knowledge and skills in hospitality and tourism management.

  • Roko Construction speaks out on LOP Visit

    Roko Construction speaks out on LOP Visit

    Roko Construction Limited has spoken out on why honchos led by Leader of Opposition , Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi were denied access to its premises.

    The incident happened on the morning of October 14th, 2024 at the construction giant offices in Kawempe.

    In a statement issued after the standoff, Roko said the opposition chief was notified in a letter dated October 10th , 2024 on why his oversight visit will not be entertained.
    “Roko Construction Limited was notified of the Leader of Opposition’s intent to conduct an oversight visit at our premises on Monday, 14th October 2024,’ management said.

    “However, this request was respectfully declined, as stated in their letter dated 10th October, which was delivered to Parliament on the same day in both hard and soft copies.”

    The statement added “Although the Government of Uganda (GoU) holds a preferential shareholding in Roko Construction Limited without voting rights, its investment entitles it to receive a fixed annual dividend. This investment will be repaid over a period of eight years, during which Roko is expected to achieve the desired level of sustainability.”

    According to the terms andd conditions of the preferential agreement, the Government of Uganda exercises oversight of this investment through two GoU representatives who sit on the Roko Construction Board and chair the Audit Committee, ensuring effective internal controls within the company.
    “Roko has not breached the terms and conditions of the preferential shares agreement with the government of Uganda”, the statement concluded.

    Legal experts spoken to for this story say the Leader of Opposition is not mandated to carry out oversight on a privately owned company.
    ” Even companies where government holds 49% shareholding, government cannot do oversight on them and for the case of Roko, government just bought preferential shares which will be paid back within a period of eight years. In short, government is not a shareholder in Roko Construction Ltd,” the legal expert said.

    Ssenyonyi is understood to have written to the firm on October 8th, this year requesting permission to conduct oversight. However, ROKO through its director Mark Koehler responded two days later denying them the leeway.
    Despite this, Ssenyonyi, accompanied by lawmakers including Gorett Namugga (Mawogola South, NUP), Santa Okot (Aruu North, PPP), David Lukyamuzi Kalwanga (Busujju County, NUP), and Frank Kabuye (Kassanda South, NUP), arrived at the company premises, hopeful they would be allowed in
    However, they were met by a closed gate, which they banged on for several minutes in vain, until an unnamed Head of Security, dressed in green, engaged them through a narrow opening.
    The officer informed them that he had instructions not to allow them in, prompting Ssenyonyi to question why they were being denied entry despite the company receiving sh263 billions of taxpayer money.
    “I got a copy of the letter. I am the head of security here. I am supposed to be notified of everything that goes on here. Don’t push the gate. With due respect, also respect my job
    dears,” the officer said.
    After failing to resolve the standoff, Ssenyonyi left the premises with his tail between his legs, lamenting that he had been denied his rightful duty.
    ROKO was established in 1969 by Max Rohrer and as of 2021 was employing close to two thousand workers. Over the years, the firm has pulled off magnificent projects which include Uganda Martyrs Basilica-Namugongo, Mapeera House and Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) House among others.
    However, it has recently faced economic challenges.

    On July 15, 2022, state minister for finance Henry Musasizi while appearing before the line committee divulged plans by the Government to acquire 150,000 ‘Preferential’ shares which is equivalent to Shs 202.13 Billion.
    Musasizi said this acquisition would invigorate the local construction industry and prevent capital flight.
    “As Government we are interested in having a leading construction company in Uganda which is ROKO, so that we prevent the current and existing capital flight which we are experiencing in the construction industry. In the last Financial Year (2021/22) alone, we have close to 1 trillion shillings’ contracts being given to foreign companies. And all this money is going away,” he decried.