Dott Services Limited has emerged as the best ranked Construction Company under the Contractor Registration and Classification System (CRSC) carried out jointly by the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) in collaboration the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA). Classification excercise was carried by PWC whereas technical and financial support was given by DFID.
In total 81 construction companies applied to be classified by PricewaterhouseCoopers which is a multinational professional services. 6 companies applied to be classified under class A, 12 under class B, 32 under Class C, 13 under class D, 13 under class E.
Each of the companies was among other required to submit their certificate of incorporation, latest annual returns, trading license of the for the current year, Memorandum and Articles of Association, tax clearance certificate, and returns,powers of attorney among others.
They were also assessed on technically, where a detailed assessment of each company’s minimum financial capacity, key staff, plants equipment capacity experience and physical premises were inspected.
They were also assessed in terms of the minimum years of experience, distance of roads constructed and repaired and value of a single contract executed. Of the 81 companies only DOTT SERVICES met the requirements classified under class A and DOTT SERVICES ranked as the best construction company with Class A registration among all the applicants.
Besides Dott Services the second based ranked company was CGH Establishment Limited which was classified under class C.
Venugopal Rao, the chief executive officer of Dott Services, told the press that the ranking was strictly based on meeting the set standards and demonstrating one’s capacity in terms of Turnover, facilities, plant & equipment and expertise to handle the size of the projects. “DOTT complied with all those parameters set for class A registration by a reputable organization which is PWC,” Rao said.
He noted that they understood the purpose and objective of the rating which was to determine the construction companies’ capacity to handle the projects and categorize them into classes so as to develop a data base and eventually get accreditation from PPDA so that the clients will chose from the list whenever there is an opportunity. “It also helps international partners in funding and forming joint ventures with locally established companies,” Rao added.
Gertrude Nakitto of the CGH Establishment ltd said they were happy with the approvals.
CRCS is intended to be a one stop centre register with a comprehensive list of all contractors of various capacities that will bid for GoU road works. Department for International Development (DFID) offered both the technical and financial support for the registration and classification of the contractors.
Ministry of Works Senior Public Relations Officer declined to comment on the report though sources in the Ministry noted it had already been handed over to the top Ministry officials. However a source at the Ministry revealed that, “CRCS is a component of a series of Government policy interventions that are geared at regulating and developing the construction industry in Uganda.”
A statement from the Ministry indicated that, “purpose of setting up the CRCS is to improve the efficiency of Government expenditure on roads and support key stakeholders in the roads sector to tackle blockages and create opportunities for a more competitive road construction and maintenance industry in Uganda.”
“It will be a one stop center register with a comprehensive list of all contractors of various capacities that will bid for GoU road works. The CRCS Register will be secure, up-to-date, user-friendly, and acceptable by all parties in the road construction industry in Uganda,” explained Sylvia Kirabo, the PPDA spokesperson
Our reporter has also learnt that the CRCS will be shared out to help key stakeholders in the road sector, including the MoWT, Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), Kampala capital City Authority (KCCA) and other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies both in central and local governments, in the selection of contractors for their road works contracts.
The classification revealed that most of the companies had overrated themselves and were performing contracts beyond their scope.
The establishment of the CRCS follows a National Construction Industry (NCI) Policy which was launched in January 2010. The Policy provides for the establishment of Uganda Construction Industry Commission (UCICO) to regulate and coordinate the construction industry. It also provides for the establishment of a stable and secure regulatory framework as well as supporting the development and operations of professional stakeholders in the national construction industry.
In 2016 the Government drafted UCICO Bill, 2016 which if passed into law will provide guidance in the administration of the CRCS. The objectives of the Bill includes the establishment of UCICO, regulation and coordination of the construction industry, registration of providers engaged in the construction industry; and to provide for a construction levy.
This achievement comes at the time when Dott Services is in the process of celebrating its 25 years as a local construction company.