Examining factors causing infrastructure projects delays in National Water and Sewerage Corporation

Abstract

The study examined causes of infrastructure project delays in National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), taking a case study of Nakivubo and Katosi Projects. The specific objectives included; examining the current state of Nakivubo waste water treatment plant (WWTP) and Katosi drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) projects, identifying significant internal and external factors that are causing delays in completion of these infrastructure projects and suggesting possible strategies that can be used to reduce causes of delays in NWSC infrastructure projects. The study employed cross-sectional survey design using both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to gather data. A total of 86 respondents was covered from the targeted NWSC staff, officials from both contractors and consultant’s sides. The qualitative data got from the respondents was analyzed using both thematic, content and quantitative data analysis using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS, Version 20) where tables with percentages, mean and standard deviation were used to present findings. The study findings revealed that internal and external factors were the most influencing variables that caused delay in completion of NWSC projects and these were categorized into contractor-related factors, consultant-related factors, client-related and external factors. The most pronounced contractor-related factors included; ineffective project planning and scheduling during project design. Regarding the consultant-related factors; inadequate site investigation by consulting team, design errors, unclear and inadequate details in design plans cause serious delays. In addition, lack of effective communication from the client to other project stakeholders and changes in material types and design most significant client-related factors. Most significant external-related factors include; unfavorable weather conditions during project execution and shortage of construction materials and most influencing strategies that could be used to reduce causes in delays were adhering to the approved project designs, materials and mainstreaming of communication from the client to other stakeholders. The study concluded that internal and external factors were most significant variables affecting the completion of NWSC infrastructure projects with 61%, followed by elements that form the state of both Nakivubo WWTP and Katosi DWTP with 51% and lastly strategies to reduce causes of delay in completion of Katosi and Nakivubo water projects with 47%. The study examined and recommended that NWSC, consultants and contractors need to ensure that all design changes during the execution of the works are handled explicitly.