Prime Minister hands over the construction of Luwero hospital to UPDF Engineers Brigade, Health workers asked to serve the public better

By: Ismael Kasooha

Luwero/Nakaseke

The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah has handed over the construction of Luwero General Hospital to the UPDF Engineers Brigade for quality and timely works.

This follows the delayed completion of the hospital ward whose construction began in 2012/2013 financial year but has since dragged on.

The UPDF Engineers Brigade will also take on the completion of the Luwero District Administration block which has spent many years under construction due to financial limitations.

The construction is estimated to cost 2.5bn shillings and will be done in 9 months time.

The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah (centre) flanked by other officials inspecting the building that will be completed by the UPDF Engineers Brigade in Luwero District

The premier, while handing over the facility to the UPDF engineers brigade said that H.E President Yoweri Museveni decided to bring on board the UPDF so that there is quality and timely work.

“The president wrote to me instructing that the UPDF Engineers brigade takes on the work on the two buildings so that they can be completed as soon as possible,” said Nabbanja.

Nabbanja added that the UPDF had helped the government to save money when they produced world class works at Entebbe International Airport when the country was preparing to host NAM, G77 and China.

“The UPDF helped the government to save 92bn shillings when they took up the construction and rehabilitation of the Entebbe International Airport yet they produced world class work,” said Nabbanja.

Nabbanja cautioned Health Workers against absenteeism and moonlighting arguing that the government enhanced their salaries with hope that they would offer better services to the public.

“We are formulating a policy that will ban moonlighting by government health workers because we are paying them enough money. We want them to concentrate on work and serve Ugandans because the government is being bashed because of them,” said Nabbanja.

Victoria Rusoke, the State Minister for Local Government, assured the people of Luwero that the government will address all issues regarding service delivery in Luwero.

“Government instituted a ban on creation of new administrative units but as soon as it is lifted Luwero will be the first beneficiary,” said Rusoke.

Rusoke was responding to demands by the district LC V Chairman Luwero, Erasto Kibirango that Luwero is one of the biggest town councils in the country and needed to be upgraded to a municipality status.

Kibirango asked the Central Government to avail the District with another road unit because of the many kilometers in 10 sub counties and 8 Town Councils that make up the District.

Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Director General, Health Services in the Ministry of Health appealed to health workers to serve diligently.

“We pleaded with the government on salary enhancement but it is disheartening to see that health workers are not offering the required services to the public. A medical officer gets almost thrice the salary of a Chief Administrative Officer yet you people do not want to serve,” cautioned Mwebesa.

He said that there are very many health professionals out there who would like to serve the government and warned if anyone was not happy with the pay they can leave and create room for others to serve.

Mwebesa assured the people of Luwero that the government will deliver a new X-ray Machine for better services.

Col. Godfrey Tukamwakiira of the UPDF Engineers brigade said that they were ready to start work to be completed in 9 months only.

In a related development the Prime Minister inspected the ongoing road works for the upgrade of Luwero-Butalangu 29.72km road from gravel to paved standard by Dot services.

Nabbanja expressed concern that road construction was behind schedule and asked the contractor to double efforts to have work done which is estimated to cost over 93bn shillings.

Kenbert Kaganzi, the Manager of DOT Services said that work was progressing well despite some delays.

Notable, was one traditional herbalist who had refused the valued compensation and was demanding over 500m shillings to relocate his shrine to 3km from Luwero Town.

Nabbanja advised Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to engage the herbalist and if he fails to agree, they should re-align the road but works must continue.

The Prime Minister also visited Nakaseke General Hospital in her quest to monitor and supervise government service delivery.

Nabbanja was impressed by the work at the hospital and lauded health workers for their efforts to serve Ugandans.

The Prime Minister assured the people of Nakaseke that the government would address all issues raised such as low staffing, staff quarters for health workers, renovation of the hospital, irregular supply of drugs among others.

END