IGG orders repairs at Kotido Hospital over shoddy work
The Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), Dr Patricia Achan Okiria during the inspection of Kotido hospital on March 18, 2025. PHOTO/FRED WAMBEDE
What you need to know:
- The block, constructed by Good Deed Construction Company Limited at a cost of Shs450 million, has been marred by shoddy workmanship, including poorly fixed doors and cracks on the floors, walls, and ceiling.
The Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), Dr Patricia Achan Okiria, has directed the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kotido District to ensure the cracks on the newly constructed administration block at Kotido General Hospital are repaired before the facility is handed over to the government.
The block, constructed by Good Deed Construction Company Limited at a cost of Shs450 million, has been marred by shoddy workmanship, including poorly fixed doors and cracks on the floors, walls, and ceiling.
During a monitoring visit to the hospital on March 18, Dr Achan said her office had received several complaints regarding the substandard work.
“The government expects high standards in its projects, and so shoddy work will not be tolerated. I direct the district authorities to ensure the contractor addresses these issues before handing over the facility," Dr Achan said.
In January 2025, Major Martha Asiimwe, head of the RDC Secretariat, also raised similar concerns during her inspection of government projects in Karamoja Subregion.
Mr Donato Oola Olam, the CAO, said the contractor will be notified about the required corrections. “The required repairs will be done to ensure there is value for money,” Mr Olam said.
Kotido RDC, Mr Charles Ichogor, welcomed the directive, saying it reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring public funds are used effectively.
“The contractor's failure to meet the expected standards raises concerns about the overall quality of work in public projects, and I wonder what roles the technocrats play in their monitoring exercise of the government projects,” he said.
Mr Ichogor also tasked the CAO with ensuring that all district leaders declare their wealth in line with the Leadership Code Act, 2002, as a measure to fight corruption.
“How can a District Health Officer own a fleet of buses? When we discover that there are assets you have not declared, they will be auctioned,” he warned.
Dr Achan attributed the slow pace of asset declaration in the sub-region to poor internet connectivity and lack of email addresses among leaders.
The exercise, which started on March 1, is scheduled to close on March 31, 2025, and is being conducted through the Online Declaration System.
“Moroto and other districts in Karamoja Subregion being far-off, some leaders have challenges with emails. Some of them have forgotten the emails they opened previously, and they have got to open new emails,” she noted.
Dr Achan made the remarks during her visit to Moroto and Kotido districts last week, where she also conducted spot checks on government projects and sensitized leaders on the importance of declaring their wealth.
As of March 18, 2025, declaration of incomes, assets, and liabilities by leaders stood at 25 percent in Moroto District, 19 percent in Kotido District, and 30 percent in Kotido Municipality.
She, however, revealed that IGG teams have been deployed to work with district focal persons to achieve 100 percent compliance.
“The leaders should also know that there are penalties for non-declaration provided for within the Leadership Code Act. One of them is dismissal from office and also fines. Or the property you've acquired illicitly, which you have failed to explain, can be forfeited to the government of Uganda,” she warned.
Dr Achan emphasized that declaring incomes, assets, and liabilities promotes transparency, accountability, and good governance among leaders to ensure effective service delivery in the country.
