KIGEZI NEWS Truth All Day
By Emmanuel Arineitwe
The construction of a modern Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital has reached 75 percent completion, according to project engineers. The UGX 8.6 billion project, funded by the International Development Agency under the Uganda COVID-19 Response and Emergency Preparedness Project (UCREPP), commenced in September 2023 and is being implemented by HASO Engineers Company Limited under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, with a 15-month completion timeframe.
Similar ICU facilities are concurrently under construction at Arua and Hoima regional referral hospitals, serving the Northern and Bunyoro sub-regions, respectively.
Engineer David Businge, the site manager for HASO Engineers, said roofing is complete and plastering is ongoing. However, 21 aluminum windows, waterproofing on the ramps, and Pompeys on the ramp sides are yet to be fixed. External works such as compound design and landscaping have also not commenced.
Businge attributed the delay to changes in design and noted that it is not practical for the works to be completed by the end of this financial year as initially planned. He said the team is requesting a one-month extension to finalize the remaining work.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Senior Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health, confirmed that the works stand at 75 percent. However, he stated that no formal discussions have been held regarding an extension for the contractor. He added that beyond ICU services, the facility will also house dialysis, theatre, and neonatal care units.
