RDC Secretariat Raises Concern Over Shs549m Stalled Maternity Ward in Bukedea

What the report says

BUKEDEA — Officials from the Office of the President have raised concerns over a stalled Shs549 million maternity ward at Okunguro Health Centre II in Bukedea Town Council, saying the Ministry of Health’s oversight of the project appears weak. The issue came up during a monitoring visit led by Dr Sr Mary Grace Akiror, the deputy head of the RDCs Secretariat and Anti-Corruption Unit, together with district leaders.

According to the Watchdog Uganda report, the ward has remained unfinished for about two years even though the ministry allocated money for the work in the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 financial years. Bukedea District Health Officer Dr Emmanuel Odeke Okallany said the project was split into two phases, with BAO Financial Services Limited contracted to do the works. He said the district and intended users were not sufficiently involved in procurement and implementation, and that the contractor had not shared bills of quantities, making local supervision difficult.

The first phase, worth Shs265 million, covered foundation excavation, slab construction and walling up to beam level. The second phase, budgeted at Shs284 million, was meant to include roofing, doors and windows, but the facility is still incomplete. Odeke said the ministry had asked the district to seek an extra Shs200 million in the 2026/2027 financial year for finishing works such as plastering, painting, ceiling and a veranda.

The monitoring team also reviewed other projects in Bukedea District and said several appeared to reflect value for money, while road construction was progressing well. RDC William Wilberforce Tukei said centrally awarded projects can be harder for local governments to monitor when key documents are not shared. Dr Akiror said she would take the maternity ward concerns to the Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary to push for a solution.