Vice President Jessica Alupo has expressed disappointment after discovering that the two Soroti University construction projects worth over sh5.5b have stalled for years.

Soroti University on January 27, 2021, signed an agreement with RUP Engineering Ltd for the construction of an anatomy block whose first phase worth sh5.1b was expected to be completed by May/June 2023.

The anatomy block was to house 11 lecture rooms, 4 laboratories, 1 mortuary,1 library and 16 office spaces. Once completed it would help reduce the pressure on the existing infrastructure for both the current users and the new programs.

However, during her oversight visit to Soroti University on Saturday, ahead of President Yoweri Museveni’s expected visit to the Teso sub-region later this month, Alupo found out that the anatomy block and water tank project worth sh495m have not been completed to date.

According to Alupo, President Museveni over ten years ago guided that the infrastructure, anatomy block, equipment for training scientists in the institution and enough human resources be put in the university.

“So am very disappointed that the managers and administrators of this university kept the anatomy block crawling up to the stage that it stagnated and has attracted us the leaders,” Alupo said.

Alupo’s displeasure increased after the University Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Robert Ikoja Odongo and the University bursar Robert Magemeso among others, gave contradictory explanations concerning the stalled anatomy block.

Prof. Ikoja said the contractor abandoned the site because they had no money to pay him and suggested that the UPDF engineering brigade take over the construction of the block, while the bursar said they agreed mutually to terminate the contractor because of the inadequacy after being paid sh4b.

Prof. Ikoja revealed that the anatomy block contractor removed his tools from the site around November 2023 after the Government failed to allocate resources for infrastructural development in the last two years.

“We require sh25b which will include furnishing the anatomy block and the university needs shs2.4b to recruit academic staff to teach students moving into fourth and fifth year,” Prof. Odongo said.

Peter Pex Paak, the Soroti Resident City Commissioner, said there was also a water tank project worth sh495m which was constructed, but it collapsed when it was being tested after a different contractor was already paid about sh300m.

“The IGG is investigating this matter to establish why payment was authorised to a contractor who did substandard work though the investigation is taking a little longer,” Paak said.  

However, Alupo said the contradicting statements from the university's top leaders alone show that there is a bigger problem while noting that some institutions perpetuate corruption by either making the contractor run forever or changing three contractors for the same construction project.

“I hope that is not here. Where did you put Ruth Achimo Etibot (the former University secretary) who built the main structures because the anatomy block is smaller and she would have finished this building by now? She may be there in Luzira Prisons because of fighting corruption in this university. The big building was built in four years and why are you taking long to complete this one? I think we need to review everything here; we cannot allow new technical people here to squander these institutions,” she said.

Alupo observed that since 2016, no physical growth of the university has been realised despite having a strategic plan which she also participated in framing.

“In 2012, when we started the establishment of this university, when I was the education minister, we presented a master plan to the President but I am not seeing it taking shape apart from the start of the institution which the President is also happy with. Achimo who is in Luzira and you (Prof. Ikoja) were able to start the university well. I don’t know where someone who has failed the completion of the anatomy block would be,” Alupo said.

According to her, the Government established the university deliberately to answer the needs of the people of Teso to have an institution of higher learning of this calibre.

“Having received so many requests from groups of people in this sub-region for the university, it is now collapsing in your hands. Will you allow such an institution to collapse and become a white elephant in your hands?” she asked.

“You (Prof. Ikoja) and I grew up from Teso. When other regions are walking, we should be running because we lost a lot of time during the insurgency including the Karamojong rustlers,” Alupo added.

She cautioned whoever is derailing the progress of the university because Iteso asked for the institution.

“We shall make it very difficult or fight anyone who wants to derail the progress of this university,” she vowed.

She promised to report her findings to President Museveni and silently whisper to him her recommendations.

Alupo called upon the university to fight corruption in whatever way so that it grows. 

Bosco Okiror, the chairperson of the Teso Parliamentary Group and also the Usuk County MP asked the Iteso to love and guard the University jealously saying it’s so disappointing that money was wasted to pay for the shoddy water tank project, adding that it’s difficult for them to go and push for more money when the house is unclean.

The Vice Chancellor said the University has registered recent developments which include the identification of the university to host the centre for nuclear science and technology.