Written By |
IGG Beti Kamya in a meeting during the launch of Say no to Corruption in Mitooma district recently | Fred Kabango - Torch Media Africa
Search
THE Government of Uganda in partnership with the World Bank is currently implementing the Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers (UGIFT) program for the construction of 259 Seed Schools in the least served Sub-Counties in the county.
The programme which was launched in 2018/2019 construct seeds schools in three phases, with a total of 117 schools to be constructed in the first phase, 115 in second phase and 27 in the third phase.
Among those 98 have been completed and in operation, however, the quality of completed Schools are questionable, and this has irked the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to take interest and institute special investigations in all constructed seed schools in the Country, because there is no value for money.
IGG, Beti Kamya Namisango, who recently made a spot check at Mayanga Seed Secondary School in Mitooma district, told Torch Media Africa News that she is going to address concerns raised by members of the public and leaders regarding shoddy works on the constructed Schools.
“Members of the Public including leaders raised concerns on the quality of buildings, supplies in the computer lab, size of the playing grounds and most contractors are never on the ground, and those whose contracts got expired were paid off when the works is not completed
It is a national problem and my office will approach it from a global perspective, instead of handling school by school.” She mentioned.
Her visit to Mayanga Seed School followed Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa’s appeal to her office to come and study the work the contractor did at the school when he represented minister for education at the commissioning of the shs2.3b school project in 2022.
Tayebwa had questioned the works executed by the contractor KHALSA Developments (U) Ltd, citing defects on the floors, irregularities with the classroom locks, science laboratories and ICT laboratory blocks, staff quarters and administration blocks.
At Mayanga, she observed, they supplied non- functioning computers, defects on the buildings and drainage systems, the contract expired before completion of works and wondered how the contractor was paid off without issuance of Certificate of completion.
IGG, Beti Kamya Namisango( left) talking to Asasirwe Prudence, the Deputy head teacher for Mayanga Seed School in Mitooma district over quality of buildings constructed under UGIFT programme MITOOMA, Tuesday 12 March 2024
“I have taken information, books, papers, and I have cited absenteeism of the head teacher because he had never signed in attendance book. They have told us that he left yesterday for the workshop, but that is not enough and we demand a report on school project.
Asasirwe Prudence, the deputy head teacher at Mayanga Seed School who took IGG and team through inspection of the project, was naïve when asked about the details contained in the project, but she instead referred most of the questions to the head teacher, Ainebyona Samuel who was off the school for official duties.
When contacted, Ainebyona, confirmed that the constructed buildings had several defects, but faulted the local government and the ministry of education for not properly supervising the construction of the buildings adding that he could not even access any document pertaining the bills of quantities.
However, Barungi Peace Gloria, the district education officer also distanced herself from issues of technicalities, saying that all the certifications were done and brought to her by the district engineer for approval.
