Monitor government projects, NGOs urged

By Kenneth OtimTHE Katakwi resident district commissioner (RDC), Ndiwa Chemswet, has called upon organisations in Teso to monitor School Facility Grant projects to expose more incompetent contractors.He advised the local councillors to form a coalition with NGOs to monitor government projects and report the findings to the district authorities.Chemswet was speaking at a public dialogue organised by the Peace and Justice Commission - Soroti Catholic Diocese (JPCS), the Teso Anti-corruption Coalition (TAC) and the Uganda Debt Network (UDN) at Wera Youth Centre in Katakwi district.“Local councils can help NGOs and the central government to expose incompetent contractors,” he said.Primary school head teachers in Katakwi district were urged to display balance sheets for accountability of money sent to their schools. It was revealed that Amuria Farmers and Contractors would start building some schools even without the contract being given and money paid to the company.The CSO agreed that disciplinary action be taken on the responsible district officials who authorised the tenders and release of funds.The Office of the Prime Minister was urged to immediately implement the report by UDN.Fifty-two classrooms have been constructed with charcoal dust, poor sand, rusting ironsheets and weak ring beams.