Dott in clinic controversy
May 28, 2004
A sh100m project awarded to building firm Dott Services Limited has run into controversy after the beneficiaries refused to accept a medical theatre constructed by the firm on grounds that it did not meet specifications set out in the tender.
By Ricks Kayizzi
A sh100m project awarded to building firm Dott Services Limited has run into controversy after the beneficiaries refused to accept a medical theatre constructed by the firm on grounds that it did not meet specifications set out in the tender.
The project, undertaken more than two years ago, was intended to decongest Mulago Hospital, the only referral hospital in the country.
Dr Jack Kalyegyeya, the in charge of the Kawempe KCC Health Care Centre, one of the intended beneficiaries of the project said the work done by Dott Services left a lot to be desired.
“The theatre was constructed as any ordinary building in total disregard of the specifications,†he said pointing out that the so called theatre is too tiny to handle the usually many cases in the area.
“The louver windows let in dust and the ambulance can’t find its way to the entrance of the building,†Kalyegyeya said.
He said all serious medical cases had to be transferred to either Mulago Hospital or Naguru Health Care Centre. Kalyegyeya said because the entrance to the theatre is too small, a trolley with a patient cannot go through, or any other huge emergency material.
“Even after the operation, the patient will just have to be lifted to the recovery room, as the door is too tiny to allow the bed to make the bend,†he said.
“They gave them the specifications but they disregarded them. This building has no minimum requirements needed to be called a theatre,†Kalyegyeya said at Kawempe recently.
He said they would not have accepted an official handover of such substandard facilities.
“The contractors decided to walk off with the key upon completion two years ago,†Kalyegeya said.
M. Venu, the Dott Services director for contracts, dismissed the allegations.
“Some people are trying to decampaign us and tarnish our name. But we are used to that and will overcome it,†he said at their Kawempe headquarters.
However, according to a recent media statement by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority, Dott Services is one of the firms which have failed to do public work according to schedule.
“Some of the works running behind schedule include rehabilitation and remodelling of Butabika Mental Health Hospital supposed to have been finished by April 17 2003 and Mbarara-Bushenyi, Ishaka Road, supposed to have been completed by August 27 2003.
KCC officials have rubbished complaints by the public that one of their main contractors - Dott Services Ltd, is doing shoddy work in their construction works in and around Kampala.
Ends
A sh100m project awarded to building firm Dott Services Limited has run into controversy after the beneficiaries refused to accept a medical theatre constructed by the firm on grounds that it did not meet specifications set out in the tender.
The project, undertaken more than two years ago, was intended to decongest Mulago Hospital, the only referral hospital in the country.
Dr Jack Kalyegyeya, the in charge of the Kawempe KCC Health Care Centre, one of the intended beneficiaries of the project said the work done by Dott Services left a lot to be desired.
“The theatre was constructed as any ordinary building in total disregard of the specifications,†he said pointing out that the so called theatre is too tiny to handle the usually many cases in the area.
“The louver windows let in dust and the ambulance can’t find its way to the entrance of the building,†Kalyegyeya said.
He said all serious medical cases had to be transferred to either Mulago Hospital or Naguru Health Care Centre. Kalyegyeya said because the entrance to the theatre is too small, a trolley with a patient cannot go through, or any other huge emergency material.
“Even after the operation, the patient will just have to be lifted to the recovery room, as the door is too tiny to allow the bed to make the bend,†he said.
“They gave them the specifications but they disregarded them. This building has no minimum requirements needed to be called a theatre,†Kalyegyeya said at Kawempe recently.
He said they would not have accepted an official handover of such substandard facilities.
“The contractors decided to walk off with the key upon completion two years ago,†Kalyegeya said.
M. Venu, the Dott Services director for contracts, dismissed the allegations.
“Some people are trying to decampaign us and tarnish our name. But we are used to that and will overcome it,†he said at their Kawempe headquarters.
However, according to a recent media statement by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority, Dott Services is one of the firms which have failed to do public work according to schedule.
“Some of the works running behind schedule include rehabilitation and remodelling of Butabika Mental Health Hospital supposed to have been finished by April 17 2003 and Mbarara-Bushenyi, Ishaka Road, supposed to have been completed by August 27 2003.
KCC officials have rubbished complaints by the public that one of their main contractors - Dott Services Ltd, is doing shoddy work in their construction works in and around Kampala.
Ends