Contractor abandons Shs700m health project in Buliisa

Buliisa: Leaders in Buliisa District have raised alarm over the stalled construction of a general-purpose ward at Kihungya Health Centre II, a project worth over Shs700 million.

The facility, which serves more than 1,600 patients every month, was expected to expand its services after being elevated to a Health Centre III in 2023. However, five years later, the construction remains incomplete.

The contract was awarded on February 20, 2021 to Bertllanz Engineering Limited, reportedly linked to Buliisa District Procurement Officer Ronald Wilfred Kasaija to construct a multipurpose ward aimed at supporting upgraded health services. The project was initially scheduled for completion within 18 months.

Kenneth Tumusiime, the LC3 Chairperson of Kihungya Sub-county, said repeated efforts to seek intervention have not yielded results. “As the Sub-county Chairperson, I have written several letters appealing for intervention, but they have all landed on deaf ears. It is now five years since the project stalled,” Tumusiime said.

He noted that although the Office of the Inspector General of Government (IGG) responded and conducted a field visit, local leaders have not received any feedback.

Tumusiime further revealed that the incomplete structure has started deteriorating, with visible cracks, particularly on the ceiling. He added that the facility continues to operate at Health Centre II level due to the lack of critical infrastructure.

“The facility was elevated, but it cannot operate fully as a Health Centre III because there are no admission facilities. Even the laboratory technician cannot work due to lack of space,” he said.

Medical equipment delivered by the Ministry of Health remains unused and is currently stored at the sub-county headquarters due to the incomplete building.

When contacted, Buliisa District Procurement Officer Ronald Wilfred Kasaija denied allegations linking him to ownership of Bertllanz Engineering Limited.

“I cannot award a contract to myself,” Kasaija said, adding that meetings involving the IGG and district leaders resolved that the project would be completed within two months.

Prof. Levi Musinguzi, the Buliisa Chief Administrative Officer confirmed that the district terminated the contractor’s contract and engaged another firm to complete the works.

“We terminated the contract and brought on board a new contractor. The project is expected to be completed by June 30 this year,” Musinguzi said.

He also dismissed claims that the procurement officer owns the company.

Despite these assurances, local leaders are calling for urgent intervention from both central government and district authorities to ensure completion of the facility and improve service delivery.

Some local sources allege that corruption and kickbacks within the procurement process have contributed to stalled projects, claiming contractors are often paid up to 99 percent of contract sums before completing the work.

“Even when contracts are awarded to external contractors, officials demand kickbacks, which affects service delivery,” a source alleged.

In 2024, while presenting a status report on health units to the district council, the District Secretary for Health, Harriet Atuhairwe, revealed that Buliisa District had lost more than Shs914 million to a contractor who abandoned multiple health projects.

The affected facilities include Kihungya Health Centre III, where the general-purpose ward remains incomplete, as well as Butiaba Health Centre III and Avogera Health Centre III, where staff quarters were left unfinished.

Atuhairwe noted that all three projects were expected to be completed in 2022, but remain stalled despite full payment to the contractor.

“All funds were paid to a contractor who abandoned the work, and the projects have stalled for two years so far,” she said in 2024.

Former Buliisa District Chief Administrative Officer, Ismael Onzu, said he had written to Bertllanz Engineering Limited demanding an explanation for the abandoned works.

He added that the contractor pledged to resume work and complete the projects by April 15, 2024, but had not returned to the sites.

Onzu warned that the district would blacklist contractors who fail to fulfill contractual obligations.

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