By: Derrick Senyonga
NAMANVE
Maj. Eng. George Ogwang, the UPDF Engineering Brigade Operations Officer and Project Manager Central has shared a progress report regarding the renovation of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) stores that are located in Namanve. Maj. Ogwang revealed to the inspection team from OPM that the erection of the entire perimeter wall around the Phase I section of the project was complete with grills fitted.
He also told the OPM weekly inspection team which included Mr. Lwasa Robert, the Principal Systems Administrator (PSA) and Susan Akuma, the Principal Assistant Secretary both from the Department of Finance and Administration, that whereas the front wall had been fitted with grills to raise the perimeter wall to the planned height of 2.4m, the rear wall currently stands at 2.15m with coping the only activity left to bridge the height difference. The coping is to protect the wall from water damage and also add aesthetic appeal to the wall. Also to be done in the wall is the pointing during which the gaps between the bricks will be filled with mortar to improve the appearance of the wall and also enhance durability of the structure.
“The brick and grills work is done. We are now going to concentrate on backfilling the yard and working on the ground floor inside the store,” Maj. Ogwang said adding that space would be created within the yard to temporarily store items as the inside of the stores undergoes renovations. The backfilling of the yard is expected to take approximately four weeks. The UPDF brigade said that in order to make the yard firmer to handle the weight of the heavy truck delivering and/or collecting items from the store, the yard will be filled with murram, hardcore and blinding before laying of pavers. Prior to leveling and back-filling of the yard, works including channel excavation works to ensure proper drainage and removal of vegetable soil from the yard would be done.
Mr. Lwasa commended the Brigade for the steady progress and urged them to maintain the momentum set for timely delivery of the project.
The Inspection team was also briefed that in the next coming weeks, the ground floor of the store will be excavated to make it firmer so that it can handle the weight of relief items.
Pictorials
Ms. Susan Akuma, Principal Assistant Secretary (2nd right) explains an issue during the incpection of the fitted grills. Looking on is Eng. Muhwezi (left), Maj. Ogwanga (2nd left) and Mr. Robert Lwasa the Principal Systems Administrator ((back to camera)
A section of fitted grills on the top of the perimeter wall by the roadside (front)
Status of the perimeter wall in the rear side awaiting coping
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