The government’s decision to award Roko Construction Company the Shs76 billion Entebbe Statistics House project has reignited public debate over the contractor’s ability to deliver major infrastructure projects on time.The new UBOS facility, launched on Thursday in Entebbe, is intended to strengthen Uganda’s statistical, research and data management infrastructure. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Roko Chairman Mark Koehler publicly pledged that the company would deliver the project within the agreed timeline, saying timely completion would be the true measure of success.However, the announcement has been met with mixed reactions from many Ugandans, who point to several high-profile projects that have experienced prolonged delays.Roko has faced public scrutiny over the pace of some of its major projects, including the Parliamentary chambers project, which has taken significantly longer than initially expected, and the Lubowa International Specialized Hospital, which has also remained a subject of public debate regarding timelines and progress.The company has also weathered financial challenges in recent years, leading to government support that officials say was intended to preserve a local construction company with decades of experience.While government officials have defended the decision, arguing that Roko has a long track record in Uganda’s construction industry, many citizens say the company must now rebuild confidence through performance rather than promises.Michael Ssemanda, a businessman in Kampala, said public confidence has been weakened by repeated delays on major projects.“Ugandans have heard promises before. What people want now is evidence. If Roko delivers the Entebbe Statistics House on time and to the required standard, that is what will restore trust,” Ssemanda said.Another resident, Sarah Nabukenya, a teacher from Wakiso, questioned the government’s decision to entrust another multi-billion-shilling project to a contractor whose previous projects have attracted criticism over timelines.“This is taxpayers’ money. The government should ensure strict supervision and accountability. The issue is not whether Roko is a local company; it is whether the project will be completed on schedule,” she said.The debate has become particularly significant because the Entebbe Statistics House is expected to become a national data processing centre for censuses and major statistical surveys, while also supporting Uganda’s bid to host the East African Statistics Bureau.Finance State Minister Henry Musasizi said the project is fully financed by the Government of Uganda and defended the decision to support Roko, noting that President Yoweri Museveni had directed assistance to the company after it experienced financial difficulties.Roko, which has operated in Uganda for more than five decades, has constructed numerous public and private sector projects and says it is determined to demonstrate that it can deliver both quality and speed.For many observers, however, the Entebbe Statistics House project represents more than a construction contract. It is a test of whether Roko can reverse years of public skepticism and prove that it can complete a major government project within the promised timeframe.As construction begins, attention is likely to focus less on the groundbreaking ceremony and more on whether the contractor can meet the deadlines it has publicly committed to.The post RED FLAGS: Roko wins Shs76 billion Entebbe project, but public trust remains its biggest test appeared first on The Insider.