IGG raps PRDP project over shoddy work

By Alfred Wandera

The government ombudsman has come down heavily on the implementation of the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP2) over shoddy and incomplete works in the northern region which has partly contributed to failure to fully achieve its objective.

Speaking on Friday during the 4th PRDP Monitoring Committee (PMC) meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister’s main conference hall in Kampala on the role of the Inspectorate of Government in PRDP2, the IGG, Irene Mulyagonja noted that there has been relatively poor quality construction in the beneficiary region.

The implementation of the PRDP2 began in the financial year 2012/13 and is ending in this June.

“We established that there has been relatively poor quality/shoddy construction in the project area and the contractors/key technical persons named in the bids are often not on the ground and there is inadequate supervision of the projects by relevant authorities,” said Mulyagonja.

Mulyagonja said there has also been conflict of interest in the award of contracts with some contracts being awarded to politicians and civil servants, which has compromised their level of monitoring and evaluation.

She added that there has been wastage of resources where some completed infrastructure is not being utilized, especially health centres.

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) said there has been delayed completion of projects, noting that some projects that were launched as far back as in the 2010/11 financial year have not been completed.

She attributed the delays in completion to budget cuts, late disbursement of funds, delay in procurement process and lack of financial and sometimes technical personnel of the contractors.

The IGG displayed photographs of shoddy and incomplete works at Chakili Primary School and Olili Annex Primary School in Apac district, Apiioguru Primary School in Kole district, Ochero Health Centre III in Kaberamaido district, Alao Primary School in Oyam district and Naiku Health III in Mbale district.

Other queried works were found at Bungokho Mutoto Health Centre III in Mbale district, Busiu Health Centre IV in Mbale district, Akeit-Ogooma-Kalapata Road in Ngora district, Natumurum Health Centre II and Nabwal Health Centre II in Napak district, cracked verandahs on buildings in Busia district, among others.

Despite faulting the project for the negative patterns in its implementation, Mulyagonja noted that in the process of monitoring and inspection of the projects, the Inspectorate established that many projects have been properly and timely implemented and funds properly accounted for.