The Rubanda District Chairperson Ampeire Stephen Kasyaba yesterday took it head on with Ricky Construction Company over what he termed as shoddy Construction works done at Mpungu Health Centre III Maternity Ward.
The medical facility which was elevated to Health Centre III in the 2018-2019 financial year recieved UGX 500 million UGX from Government for a face lift and construction of the Maternity ward.
However, a few days after completion of the construction works, local leaders were notified of developing cracks in the newly constructed structure. The Contractor had reportedly rushed back to the site and made a few repairs but cracks resurfaced days later.
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 engaged different stakeholders a few months after he was sworn into office, “Having been new in office, area local leaders and medical workers approached me and revealed that something was fishy with the just completed maternity ward.”He said.
Being the District accounting officer, he engaged the Contractor whose response seemingly undermined his authority as he put it right into his face that he is not the one who awarded him the contract therefore had no right to supervise his works.
” 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 revealed
Kasyaba vowed to ensure that Ricky contractors pay for all consequences associated to their shoddy works if they don’t swiftly rectify errors at Mpungu Health Centre III.
He further tasked the Rubanda District Chief Administrative Officer, District Health Officer and District Engineer to ensure that the 10% of the funds is hoarded per contract and they should not be fully cleared until the works at Mpungu Health Centre III are fully completed to satisfaction.
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.
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.
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