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Kampala – The High Court has paved the way for the resumption of construction works on the multi-billion-shilling Mothers’ Union House in Namirembe following the settlement of a prolonged dispute between Mothers’ Union and Bucon Construction Company.
Top leadership of Mother’s Union, and other stakeholders after a Thanksgiving prayer.
The disagreement stemmed from claims over the value of work completed during the initial phase of the project. Bucon Construction had demanded more than Shs1 billion for the work undertaken, while Mothers’ Union maintained that the completed works were worth approximately Shs400 million.
The contractor subsequently took possession of the building and sought legal redress after Mothers’ Union declined to settle the amount claimed.
However, following mediation led by Justice Simon Peter Kinobe Mutegeki of the Civil Division of the High Court, the two parties reached an amicable settlement. Under the agreement, Mothers’ Union will pay Bucon Construction Shs500 million, while the contractor will relinquish control of the site and allow construction to proceed.
Speaking during a thanksgiving prayer service held at the construction site, Mothers’ Union President Nalongo Roseline Biingi Kawiso said the organization had objected to the contractor’s earlier claims because they believed they had been overcharged.
“We refused to pay the amount initially demanded because we believed the charges were exaggerated. For example, we were billed for two underground levels, yet only one had been constructed. Through court-guided negotiations, we reached a fair agreement,” she said.
The Mother’s union building at ground level stage.
Biingi noted that Mothers’ Union had already paid the contractor Shs1.2 billion and that the outstanding balance of Shs500 million will be settled over a period of two years.
She also confirmed that construction works will resume immediately after the organization regained access to the site from the previous contractor.
The planned eight-storey Mothers’ Union House has faced several setbacks, including funding challenges and management concerns. These intensified after the current administration, led by Biingi and supported by members of the Christian community, commissioned a forensic audit into the expenditure of approximately Shs12 billion on the project.
Once completed, the development is expected to house multipurpose conference halls, banking facilities, restaurants, and health clubs. The facility is also projected to generate sustainable income for Mothers’ Union activities, support family-focused initiatives, and provide space for community programmes.
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