Govt investigates Wakiso schools over shoddy work
A Wakiso District official inspects works at one of the schools within the district. Authorities are investigating the progress of the works after the red flag was raised. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KIGGUNDU
What you need to know:
- In his letter to Mr Waisswa, dated December 11, 2017, Mr Lokuda pointed out that in all the three schools, the contractor had reached window level and in some cases ring beam without certification from the district technical team, which created suspicion.
- Sam Mwesigwa says the assigned engineers reported to the district on Monday to kick start their investigations which are expected to take place between two and three weeks.
Kampala. Government has instituted a three-member team of engineers to investigate alleged shoddy works at three public schools in Wakiso District where new structures are under construction.
The appointed engineers include; Henry Lubega Tondo (a principal structural engineer), Kenneth Ssekasala (a civil engineer) and Francis Kaddu (a clerk of works).
According to Mr Edward Ssimwa, the acting commissioner Public Structures in the Ministry of Transport and Works, investigations into the construction works followed a petition from Wakiso District chief administrative officer Luke Lokuda after the district technical team doubted the work done by the contractor on site.
The affected schools include; Nasse Muslim Primary Schools in Gombe, Lugo Primary School in Busukuma and St Mathias Primary in Bunamwaya.
They are part of the five schools which last year benefited from a World Bank project aimed at improving infrastructure at selected primary schools in the district.
“Reference is made to your letter Ref.CR/305/3 dated December 11, 2017 in which you requested this ministry to constitute a team of engineers to carry out structural integrity assessment of the construction works being undertaken by M/S Sarjan Construction ( U)..,” Mr Ssimbwa’s letter of January 3, which he wrote on behalf of the Ministry of Works permanent secretary, Mr Bageya Waisswa, reads in part.
In his letter to Mr Waisswa, dated December 11, 2017, Mr Lokuda pointed out that in all the three schools, the contractor had reached window level and in some cases ring beam without certification from the district technical team, which created suspicion.
“The contractor is probably not conversant with government procedures, and being overzealous, speedily commenced construction works in three of the five schools… The actions of the contractor put the integrity of the work to test,” he said.
Each school, according to Mr Lokuda, was earmarked Shs600m to construct a seven-classroom block, one administration block, five-stance ventilated improved pit-latirne for pupils, two-stance ventilated improved pit-latrine for teachers and a 5,000 litre water tank.
Ms Tom Muwonge, a councillor representing Kasangati Town Council and also chairperson of district education committee, says due to poor inspection of construction works by the district, many schools where new structures erected five years ago using tax payers’ money are already in bad shape. He cites Buguju and Kyegenza primary schools in Namayumba Sub-county.
Mr Chintan Vyas, the managing director of M/S Sarjan Construction (U) Ltd, says construction works were commenced as per the contract to enable them complete the work in the stipulated period.
“We are therefore kindly requesting for assessment of the work done at the three stated schools by your technical team,” says Mr Vyas in a letter dated November 24, 2017, addressed to Mr Lokuda
“We have done a lot of building construction works and assure you that our works will be found with quality as per the specifications. We are ready to cooperate and rectify any mistake found by the technical team, when works resume,” he adds.
Probe period
Wakiso District engineer Sam Mwesigwa says the assigned engineers reported to the district on Monday to kick start their investigations which are expected to take place between two and three weeks.
Other schools that benefited from the same project include; St Kizito Primary School in Kyengera and Lutaba Chance Primary School in Ssisa.
Construction works at the two schools are yet to commence.
Despite being near to the city, many public primary schools in Wakiso are is sorry state and pupils study in classrooms with crumbling mud-and –wattle structures.
Some conduct lessons under trees while others operate in wooden structures without windows and doors, enabling pupils to wander in the neighbourhood.
According to the survey conducted by Transparency International Uganda between July 2013 and May 2014, at least 64.3 per cent of buildings in schools implementing Universal Primary Education (UPE) in Wakiso District are unfit for human habitation.
The survey revealed that 45 (64.3 per cent) out of the 70 schools visited in Wakiso have dilapidated buildings, but schools continue to use them due to the inadequate classroom space.
The survey also discovered that many schools still have insufficient classroom furniture.
Sampled schools that were found to have desks, had a ratio of 1:5 for a desk that is supposed to be used by three pupils.
Wakiso has a total number of 1,973 education facilities covering the entire infant section of kindergarten up to Primary Seven. Government aided/Universal Primary Education schools total to 256, community schools (25) while privately owned schools (1,436)
Enrollment in government schools is over 100,000 pupils who occupy 1,933 classrooms and use 36,665 desks.
NUMBERS
Wakiso District has a total number of 1,973 education facilities covering the entire infant section of kindergarten up to Primary Seven. Government aided/Universal Primary Education schools total to 256, community schools (25) while privately owned schools (1,436)
Enrollment in government schools is more than 100,000 pupils who occupy 1,933 classrooms and use 36,665 desks.
