A Ugandan construction company has petitioned government and Parliament to intervene in a dispute over a road contract in DR Congo, claiming it is owed more than Shs10.5 billion and that over 100 Ugandan workers faced arrests and deportation.
Tiger Contractors and Architects says it signed a two-year partnership in December 2024 with a Congolese contractor to modernise 20 kilometres of urban roads in Isiro City, Haut-Uele Province.
In a petition dated June 5 addressed to Parliament and government officials, the firm alleges it mobilised personnel, equipment and resources but was never paid the agreed initial $2.88 million, about Shs10.5 billion, for the first phase.
Managing director Mr Austine Moses Ssengendo said the company deployed more than 100 Ugandan workers after being assured of payment and logistical support.
According to the petition, payment was due after mobilising staff and equipment for the first four kilometres.
‘We fulfilled our part by mobilising equipment and over 100 personnel from our country across all sectors of activity,’ the company states.
However, Tiger Contractors claims the Congolese partner failed to provide agreed support, including transport, accommodation, food, medical care and payment for completed work.
As a result, Ssengendo said the firm incurred debts after renting offices, accommodation and buying materials on credit to keep the project running.
He further alleges the Congolese partner repeatedly claimed Kinshasa had not released funds, only for the Ugandan contractor to later learn payments had allegedly been made.
The petition says relations deteriorated and employees faced frequent arrests and interrogations.
‘From that point, hostile actions were clearly directed against our staff and our company,’ the petition reads.
The company alleges some workers were arrested almost daily by police, intelligence personnel and immigration officials, while others were eventually deported.
Ssengendo also claims that despite a contract specifying seven-metre road width, field conditions forced the company to widen sections to nine metres at extra cost. Work was later suspended without clear guidance on how operations would continue.
Tiger Contractors has asked government to help recover the funds and protect its interests, saying the dispute has left it facing losses and pressure from suppliers who provided materials on credit.
Officials from the Ugandan government had not commented by press time. Efforts to reach the Congolese contractor mentioned in the petition were unsuccessful.
Background
The dispute stems from the Isiro City road project in Haut-Uele Province. Tiger Contractors says it signed the agreement on December 30, 2024 after negotiations facilitated by Congolese officials. The company is now seeking diplomatic and legal intervention from Ugandan authorities to recover what it describes as unpaid dues and losses incurred.