KAMPALA – In any given country, construction is an important sector that contributes greatly to economic growth. The Construction Industry is an investment-led sector where the government shows high interest for it to realize development by contracting construction firms to develop infrastructure in all sectors.
Today, PML Daily’s Nelson Mandela sits down with one of the young brilliant construction professionals who is transforming the industry in Uganda
Tell us about yourself
Ans. My name is Casbart Tukundane, Director, Delcom Construction Limit.
What about the Delcom Construction Limit?
Ans. Well, we are a construction company – basically, we are into structures. We tender and bid for the construction of high-level buildings, talk of apartments, and house renovation. We work with Government, Organizations and private clients.
What is your expertise and some of the big names you have worked with?
Ans. We have been in this field for close to a decade now and over the years, we have done a lot of good work for different ministries including; the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and Ministry of Local Government, Cities like Mbarara and Arua, Organizations like Kawanda Research Institute, Uganda Wildlife Education Center and many others.
With your expertise now, how would you describe the construction industry?
Ans. Well, just like any other job, construction is good work but with challenges here and there which I would say constitute 30% and I will tell you why.
The construction industry has been spoilt by unprofessionals. Someone wakes up with his much money and thinks he can start a construction business. I’m into this as a professional but someone will come with their much money and compete with me and will definitely take the job. We have seen buildings collapsing, those are the results of choosing a businessman over a professional.
Another challenge is competing with foreign investors over a small business and I think it’s high time the Government intervened. There’s no way a company like Delcom can compete with a Chinese company on just a Shs500 million job. Those jobs should be left for local companies because we have the capacity.
You have talked of buildings collapsing, who is liable between a contractor and the owner?
Ans. The company (contractor) is liable because if you contract me, you expect value for money, you expect me to deliver in the time we stipulated. But there are also clients who are very stubborn, they are not professionals but they want to advise you. For instance, we are raising a column, I tell you I need to use T16 and you tell me you have no money, let’s use T12 and in that event, if something happens, the client is held liable not the company.
Speak to substandard materials on the market
Ans. This has been a challenge to all construction companies because it is difficult to tell that this is a substandard material. As Delcom, we have companies that have made their names and are not ready to lose it, those are the companies we concentrate on to supply us with raw materials.
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Some of the projects Delcom has constructed
Construction of Apartment Blocks at Mbalwa contracted by Wood Machinery Limited from March 2020 to December 2022
Brief description of the works performed by the bidder: excavations, retaining wall construction, basement construction, substructure construction, column reinforcement, formwork and casting, building, slab reinforcement, formwork and casting including staircase and beams. plastering and painting; installation of aluminium windows and doors, tiling (walls), terrazzo floor finishes, electrical installations and plumbing works installations, external works including paving, tarmac, kerbstones and grass planting.
Proposed Rehabilitation of the Bean Cooking Kitchen Facility at NARL, Kawanda – contracted by The International Centre for Tropical Agriculture from August to November 2020.
Brief Description of the Works Performed by the Bidder: Demolitions, Filing works, Painting, Steel Window and Door Fabrication and Installation, Mechanical Hood Fabrication and Installation and Electrical Works.
Remodeling, Fit Out and Partitioning Works on Fourth Floor Block A, Amber House, Kampala. This was contracted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development from December 2020 to August 2021
Brief Description of the Works performed by the Bidder: Demolitions, Block work building, Plastering and Painting; Installation of aluminium partitions, Gypsum and suspended ceiling installations, Tiling (Walls and Floor), Electrical Installations, plumbing works installations including Air Conditioners and Extract Fans
Tiling and Painting of Offices at Amber House, contracted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development from July to August 2022
Brief Description of the Works performed by the Bidder: Demolitions, Timber Partitioning, Aluminium Partitioning, Painting Works, Tiling Works and Electrical Works.
Construction of Farmers Produce Bulking and Storage Facility of Goli- Goli G.nuts in Kibuku district under Local Economic Growth Support (LEGS) Project – contracted by Ministry of Local Government from January to August 2022.
Brief Description of the Works performed by the Bidder: Excavations, Substructure construction, Brickwork building, Roofing, casting columns and beams, Plastering and Painting; Installation of aluminium Windows and doors, Tiling (Walls), Terrazzo floor finishes, Electrical and Plumbing works installations and External Works.
Repair of Amber House Court Yard, contracted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development from April to May 2022.
Brief Description of the Works Performed by the Bidder: Demolitions, APP Polythene application, Concrete Works, Drainage works, and Metal grill fabrication.
Construction of a shelter coffee processing facility, contracted by Ishaka Western Coffee Traders Cooperative Society Limited from September 2020 to 2021.
Brief Description of the Works performed by the Bidder: Excavations, Substructure construction, Brickwork building, Roofing, casting columns and beams, Plastering and Painting; Installation of aluminium Windows and doors, Tiling (Walls), Terrazzo floor finishes, Electrical Installations and Plumbing works installations.
Construction of the Main Gate at St. Josephs Vocational School, Mbarara – contracted by St. Joseph Old Boys Vocational School Old Boys Association Ltd (SAJOBA) from July 2021 to September 2022.
Brief Description of the Works performed by the Bidder: Excavations. Substructure construction, Brickwork building, Roofing, casting columns and beams, Plastering and Painting, Installation of aluminium Windows and doors, Tiling (Walls), Terrazzo floor finishes, Electrical and Plumbing works installations, and External Works
Renovation of Doctor’s Staff House at Plot 13A Multi Drive – contracted by Mbarara Municipal Council from August 2017 to March 2019
Brief Description of the Works Performed by the Bidder: Demolitions, Roof assembling and construction, Painting, Floor finishes, Electrical installations, drainage works and External Works.
Construction of Apartment Blocks at Mbalwa – contracted by Wood Machinery Limited from February 2018 to January 2019
Brief Description of the Works Performed by the Bidder: Excavations, Substructure construction, Column reinforcement, formwork and casting, Blockwork building, Slab reinforcement, formwork and casting including staircase and beams, Plastering and Painting; Installation of aluminium Windows and doors, Tiling (Walls), Terrazzo floor finishes, Electrical Installations and Plumbing works installations, External works including paving, tarmac, kerbstones and grass planting.
