Buliisa leaders raise alarm over stalled multi-billion government projects
He further alleged that project funds had twice been returned to the Treasury before being reallocated and warned that another return could jeopardize completion of the school.
Buliisa: Leaders in Buliisa District have expressed concern over the continued delay in completing several multi-billion shilling government-funded projects, calling on Parliament and relevant government agencies to intervene and hold contractors accountable.
Twahiri Wandera Atuhairwe, the Buliisa District LCV Chairperson raised the matter on Wednesday while addressing mourners at the burial of the late Muhereza Tumusiime, popularly known as Ukumu Aineya, in Garasoya B Village, Kihungya Sub-county.
Atuhairwe appealed to the district Woman Member of Parliament, Norah Bigirwa, to present the issue before Parliament, saying several centrally funded “hybrid projects” have stalled despite substantial payments to contractors.
Hybrid projects are government contracts awarded and financed by central government ministries and agencies, while local governments are responsible for supervision and monitoring.
“We continue monitoring these projects, but in many cases we find no contractors on site, yet payments are being made from the centre. This leaves the district in a difficult position because residents expect answers from us,” Atuhairwe said.
He cited the Shs700 million construction of Kihungya Health Centre III by Bertllanz Engineering Limited and the Shs3.5 billion Kihungya Seed Secondary School being constructed by CMD Investments Ltd as some of the projects that remain incomplete despite being launched several years ago.
The LCV chairperson also faulted the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the engineering arm of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), for delays in rehabilitating Buliisa Health Centre IV.
Despite the delays, Atuhairwe noted that district leaders have continued engaging contractors and government authorities in an effort to ensure the projects are completed.
Buliisa Woman MP Norah Bigirwa acknowledged the concerns and said leaders were also engaging line ministries to address other development challenges, including persistent water shortages affecting residents in Upper Buliisa.
“As leaders, we are aware of the challenges facing our communities, including water scarcity. We have already forwarded these concerns to the relevant ministries for action,” Bigirwa said.
Health projects abandoned despite payments
Concerns over stalled projects are not new.
In 2024, while presenting a health sector report to the district council, then District Secretary for Health Harriet Atuhairwe revealed that Buliisa District had lost more than Shs914 million after a contractor abandoned several health infrastructure projects.
The affected facilities included Kihungya Health Centre III, where a general ward remains incomplete, and staff housing projects at Butiaba Health Centre III and Avogera Health Centre III.
“All funds were paid to a contractor who abandoned the work, and the projects have stalled for two years so far,” Harriet Atuhairwe said at the time.
Ismael Onzu, the Former Chief Administrative Officer said the district had written to Bertllanz Engineering Limited demanding an explanation.
According to Onzu, the contractor had promised to resume work and complete the projects by April 15, 2024, but failed to return to the sites.
He warned that contractors who abandon government projects risk being blacklisted.
Seed school remains unfinished
The Shs3.5 billion Kihungya Seed Secondary School, awarded to CMD Investments Ltd in 2023, was expected to be completed within 18 months but remains unfinished.
Kenneth Tumusiime, the Former Kihungya Sub-county LCIII Chairperson said the delays have negatively affected learners.
“The school was taken over by government and construction was launched on March 21, 2023. It was supposed to take only 18 months, but nearly three years later the project remains incomplete,” Tumusiime said.
He added that previous meetings between district leaders and the contractor yielded promises that the works would be completed within six months, but little progress has been made.
According to Tumusiime, the school currently enrols more than 400 learners, many of whom continue to study under inadequate conditions.
He appealed to the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to intervene and ensure the project is completed.
Nicholas Aliganyira, the Former Chairperson of the Buliisa District Education Committee claimed the project is only about 70 percent complete despite the contractor allegedly receiving nearly all the contract funds.
“It is irregular to pay a contractor almost all the project funds before the project is completed. Once a contractor receives nearly all the money, the incentive to finish the work reduces,” Aliganyira said.
He further alleged that project funds had twice been returned to the Treasury before being reallocated and warned that another return could jeopardize completion of the school.
Aliganyira called for investigations into both the contractor and district officials who supervised the project.
“We want the IGG and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate this matter because public funds were meant to benefit citizens. Somebody must be held accountable if wrongdoing is established,” he said.
He added that the prolonged delay has forced some learners from Kihungya to travel to neighbouring Biiso Town Council in search of better learning facilities.
The continued delays in completing Kihungya Seed Secondary School and other government-funded projects have renewed concerns over contractor performance, project supervision and accountability in the implementation of public infrastructure projects across the Bunyoro sub-region.
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