Shs9bn Gulu Hospital staff quarters project under investigation

What the report says

The Nile Post reports that a Shs9 billion staff housing project at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital is under investigation after remaining unfinished more than a decade after construction began. The 54-unit accommodation complex started in 2014, but about Shs6 billion has already been spent and the project is still incomplete, leaving most hospital workers without on-site housing.

According to the report, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit is examining how the project stalled, while the Ministry of Health says it will wait for the findings before deciding on further steps. State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties Anifa Kawooya said she was dissatisfied with the delays and pointed to weak supervision by ministry engineers. She also raised questions about oversight by local leaders.

The contractor, Block Technical Services, has previously faced accusations of abandoning the work. The report says some of its team members were arrested in March 2023 for investigation. Gulu City Resident Commissioner Ambrose Ononario also said parts of the structure may need rebuilding because of quality concerns.

Gulu Regional Referral Hospital director Walter Oriekwu said only about 13% of staff are housed on site, forcing many workers to commute and potentially affecting emergency coverage and after-hours service. Bardege-Layibi MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi said stronger coordination is needed between central and local authorities on government projects. More broadly, the case highlights long-running concerns about project supervision, funding and delivery in Uganda’s public health infrastructure.