RUBANDA DISTRICT BOSS FURIOUS OVER SHODDY WORK AT MPUNGU HEALTH CENTRE

Ambrose Kweronda

RUBANDA DISTRICT

The Rubanda District L.C 5 Chairman Ampeire Stephen Kasyaba yesterday threatened to take severe action against Ricky Construction company over Shoddy Construction works done at Mpungu Health Centre III Maternity Ward .

Mpungu Health Centre III was elevated from health centre II to Health Centre III in the financial year 2018-2019. Subsquently Government released Ug. Shs. 500 million for the expansion of the facility, particularly the construction of the Maternity ward.

However, a few days after completion of the construction works, local leaders started noticing cracks in the walls and the floor. The Contractor reportedly rushed back to the site and made some repairs, yet the cracks kept resurfacing.

Chairman Kasyaba says since *he was not in office by the time the Maternity ward was constructed* , he took time to study the bills of quantities and engage different stakeholders, a few months after he was sworn into office. This was after lower local leaders and medical workers reported that something was wrong with the maternity ward.

However Mr. Kasyaba says the Contractor asked him to back off the project since he (Kasyaba) is not his employer.

” When I contacted the man , he told me I am not the one who gave him the contract, so I should back off ! I think he is a Chinese or Indian ” he said

Kasyaba vowed to ensure that Ricky contractors pay for the consequences of their mistakes if they don’t rectify the faults at Mpungu Health Centre III.

The visibly angry Kasyaba asked the Rubanda District Chief Administrative Officer, District Health Officer and District Engineer to ensure that the 10% of the funds retained per the contract should not be given to Ricky contractors until they work on the faults at Mpungu Health Centre III.

According to Kasyaba, the Contract was awarded by the Central Government, and it is partly why such companies “arrogantly” pump their chests and tell the District Authorities to “back off” when there’s any concern raised on the work being done, in contrast with Bills of Quarantities – B.O.Qs.

Meanwhile, Rubanda District Engineer Denis Twesigomwe and DHO Abdon Birungi confirmed that there were shoddy works at the Health facility and they had also tried engaging the contractor in vain.