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LIRA CITY | As the government moves to improve infrastructure at different health facilities across the country, Health minister Jane Ruth Aceng has warned that contractors involved in poor workmanship risk being blacklisted

Dr Aceng made the statement while inspecting the progress of the construction of Lango Regional Satellite Laboratory at Lira Regional Referral Hospital.

“I have come here because of a report from the World Bank about this project. The report is alarming, and I wanted to confirm it by myself," she said.

"How do you do shoddy work in the constituency of the Minister of Health? You risk losing contracts in the future because we shall not allow this kind of work.”

The Ministry of Health in April last year commenced construction of a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH) under the Uganda COVID-19 Response and Preparedness Project (UCREPP).

Upon completion, the Shs3.9 billion project is expected to improve clinical research at the hospital.

The facility is being implemented by Techno Three Limited with funding from the World Bank.

Dr Aceng’s visit to Lira Regional Referral Hospital included a detailed review of different constructions at the facility where she expressed concerns over delays and the quality of work observed in some sections.

"The government invests significant resources into these projects with the expectation that they will be completed to the highest standards," Dr Aceng said.

"Contractors who fail to meet these standards will face serious consequences, including being blacklisted from future Ministry of Health contracts.”

The concerns come amidst recent reports by the State Minister for Economic Monitoring, Beatrice Akello Akori, indicating poor quality of work by indigenous contractors trusted with the projects in the region.

For instance, the inspection report on the construction projects in the Districts of Lira, Alebtong, and Kole highlighted the low quality of construction materials.

Alebtong District Chairperson, Dickens Kennedy Odongo said the slow pace of construction and poor workmanship affect the quality of services expected from government institutions.

"Quality infrastructure is vital for the effective delivery of healthcare. We have seen how poor construction can lead to operational challenges and even pose risks to patients and staff," he said.

Mary Atim, a community health worker at Anara Health Centre III, said the government should consider enacting tough penalties against construction companies with poor work records.

"We are hopeful that the Minister’s intervention will ensure that the country's hospital and other health centres get the necessary facilities. This is about our health and the future of our community."