By Inyakuni Kennedy

Obongi

Police in Obongi District have kick started investigations on the suspension of commissioning of obongi district health office on allegations of shoddy work. The investigation was launched after obongi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Mr. Mpimbaza Samuel suspends commissioning of the project of over 697 million shillings on quality issues. This follows a complaint raised by members of CPMC for the project who complained that the contractor identified as Grand Engineering LTD has done a lot of shoddy work. During the planned commissioning ceremony presided over by RDC in the presence of technical staff and political leaders, they agreed that the commissioning be stopped and launch investigations in to the matter.

According to Mr. Samuel, the project which was started in February 2021 was supposed to be completed in six months but it has taken over years.
The OC CID obongi, ASP Ogwal Michael said they have opened up a file and started investigations on the alleged shoddy work. He adds that the site foreman Braison Kamugisha has recorded a statement at obongi central police station on the subject matter.

Mr. Fungaroo Kaps Hassan, the MP emeritus Obongi constituency commended the RDC for rejecting the commissioning of multi-million project which he said is a clear indication of corruption in the district been concealed by the former resident district commissioners of obongi district . “This thing of shoddy works is a really problem in obongi not only in construction buildings but also in road construction where culverts installed on roads like small hills, some are of poor quality,  and it’s because a lot of resources are diverts away from the project ,” Mr. fungaroo said. He has called for team spirit among the district leaders in monitoring and supervision of projects of such nature to control vice of corruption in obongi. “We people of Obongi we are going to work with him to streamline government program. Otherwise the hopes of the obongi about the coming of the district is fading because of poor service especially water, health challenges, and we must therefore open our eyes to ensure projects are monitored properly from the initiation up to the end,” he adds. Mr. Fungaroo has blamed the mess on non-involvement of local leaders like LCs, CPMCs by the sub county and district leaders. According to him, both technical and political leaders who are associated with contracts should be check if quality assurance is to be realized in obongi district.
Mr. Dominic Lomurecu, the acting obongi district health officer in a telephone interview confirmed the suspension of commissioning of the project. He said the component of the project include DHO’s office and a store for the drugs funded with support from World Bank under Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP).

The District engineer, and DRDIP engineer are expected to record statement with police on the subject matter. This is not the first the local residents in obongi are complaining about shoddy work been done by some contractors sub contracted to undertake projects to benefit the population.
Hajji Habib Buga Khemis obongi district council person welcome the move of stopping the commissioning. Although he was in Kampala at the time when the office was to be commissioned, He said they are investigating the course of the shoddy work been identified.