The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Lamwo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Lamwo Resident District Commissioner, James Nabinson Kidega has halted the construction of a multi million maternity and outpatient wards at Katum health Centre II in Padibe East Sub County citing shoddy work.
Kidega issued the directive to halt the construction works valued at Shillings 500 on Monday after ascertaining that the contractor was using substandard material during the routine monitoring exercise.
Kidega says he intervened after he was tipped off by some residents and district officials about the substandard works.
According to Kidega, the contractor was expected to utilize concrete blocks made from stone dust but he instead used blocks produced on the site using local sand, murrum soil and cement.
He expressed dissatisfaction on the quality of the blocks when he struck some of them with a hammer and they split into pieces.
Kidega immediately halted the construction works and ordered the arrest of some of the workers including the site, engineer, Geoffrey Oyet and Mansion, Brian Ogenrwot from 3Ms Investment Ltd.
The Lamwo Chief administrative Officer, Patrick Olila has confirmed receiving complaints from residents about shoddy works, saying he had directed the district engineer to supervise the works.
Olila says he subsequently wrote to the Health Ministry that instructed the district to hire a works clerk to help monitor the construction and was waiting for a technical report on the quality of works being undertaken.
He lauded the Resident District Commissioner for his intervention, saying it will help streamline the tendency of contractors who exhibit substandard works that compromises service delivery to residents.
Early this year, government through the Health Ministry secured funding from the African development Bank and World Bank to upgrade 205 superior health facilities from Health Centre II to health center III status to enhance service delivery to the local populace.
Patrick Olila says Lamwo district is amongst the districts that received Shillings 500 million for the works at Katum health center II.
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