The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Dr. Charles Ayume, has raised concerns over the construction of the UGX 1.44 trillion Lubowa Specialised Hospital. In light of the country’s alarming rise in public debt, which currently stands at UGX 97 trillion, Ayume has called on the government to halt the project. He believes that Uganda needs to be more frugal in its expenditure, especially on such a massive project.
Concerns over Rising Public Debt
The Ministry of Health has recently acknowledged that construction works at the Lubowa Hospital site have been on hold for the past two years. This revelation has raised questions about the progress of the project and the utilization of funds, which have already amounted to billions. Ayume’s concerns are further heightened by the fact that the project has not shown any significant progress despite the large amount of resources invested.
Halt in Construction Works at Lubowa Hospital
In light of these developments, Dr. Ayume has proposed a temporary suspension of construction works at Lubowa Hospital. This would allow time to reassess the financial landscape and ensure that further resources are not committed without careful consideration. This cautious approach is necessary given the current economic challenges facing the country.
Additionally, Ayume’s concerns come in the wake of an acknowledgement by the Ministry of Health that construction works at the project site in Lubowa have suffered a two-year hiatus. Furthermore, the revelation raises questions about the progress and utilization of funds at the project that has already consumed billions. Moreover, Ayume says temporarily suspending construction works will allow time to reassess the financial landscape before committing further resources. However, it’s essentially a cautious pause, suggesting that, given the current economic challenges, it might be prudent to take a step back before moving forward.
External Links
Uganda Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development – https://www.finance.go.ug/
2. Lubowa Specialised Hospital Project Updates – https://www.lubowahospital.com/updates/
3. World Bank – Uganda Country Overview – https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/uganda/overview
