Shs9bn Gulu Hospital staff quarters project under investigation

Gulu Hospital staff housing project has stalled

More than a decade after construction began, the 54-unit housing project remains incomplete, leaving most hospital workers without on-site accommodation as authorities probe how the project stalled.

A Shs9 billion staff accommodation project at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital has come under investigation after contractors failed to complete the 54-unit housing complex more than a decade after construction began.

The project, which started in 2014, has so far consumed about Shs6 billion out of the estimated Shs9 billion required for completion.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the stalled project, with the Ministry of Health awaiting the findings before deciding on further action.

State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties Anifa Kawooya expressed disappointment over the delays, blaming inadequate supervision by ministry engineers.

She also questioned the role of local leaders in monitoring government projects implemented in their areas.

The contractor, Block Technical Services, has previously been accused of abandoning the project.

In March 2023, members of the contractor’s team were arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and handed over to police for investigation.

Gulu City Resident Commissioner Ambrose Ononario said the project has also raised concerns over the quality of construction, with some sections reportedly requiring reconstruction.

Bardege-Layibi MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, who was Gulu District LCV chairman when the project started, said the district had limited powers to supervise the works because Gulu Regional Referral Hospital is directly managed by the Ministry of Health.

He called for stronger coordination between central government ministries and local authorities when implementing government projects within districts and cities.

Meanwhile, Gulu Regional Referral Hospital director Walter Oriekwu said staff accommodation remains a major challenge, with only about 13% of the hospital’s workers currently accommodated.

The shortage forces most health workers to commute to and from the facility, potentially affecting the availability of staff, particularly those required to respond to emergencies and provide services outside regular working hours.

Government documents show that the 54-unit project was initially designed as a three-storey staff housing complex intended to attract and retain health workers at the regional referral hospital.

However, the project has remained incomplete, with government assessments over the years pointing to funding, supervision and implementation challenges.

The Ministry of Health is now waiting for the State House Anti-Corruption Unit’s findings, which could determine the next course of action, including whether individuals found culpable will face prosecution.

For the hospital, the stalled project represents more than an unfinished construction site.

Management says adequate staff accommodation is important for attracting and retaining health workers and ensuring the hospital can effectively serve the large population that depends on it.