NEWS- The Rukungiri district Deputy Resident Commissioner (DRDC) Ahimbisibwe Wilberforce Ongom on Thursday declined to commission the newly constructed multi-billion Fecal Sludge in Western division, Rukungiri Municipality over shoddy works.
The facility’s construction is being undertaken by Vidas Engineering Technical Services that has also been taking on construction of three other facilities, including a 13-stance waterborne toilet at Kebisoni Market, Nyamayenje and Rukungiri Health Centre (IV) Rwamahwa in Rukungiri municipality.
These other three facilities were commissioned, but DRDC Ongom refused to put the fecal sludge treatment facility into service citing of numerous problems found during the inspection.
These projects were carried out by the Ministry of Water and Environment and the commissioned facilities were handed over to South Western Umbrella of Water and Sanitation for operational management.
Together with representatives from the Ministry of Water and Environment, the Rukungiri district and municipality leadership, Ongom found that the majority of work being done at the facility was not worth it during inspection, hence declining to commission it.
Among the concerns was absence of a buffer zone, system leaks, unfinished access roads, and physical tests for the processing of fecal waste.
Cue in………..Ongom on commissioning
Rukungiri municipality senior engineer Nuwamanya Hangson stated that no one can determine whether the facility is effective and that tests must be conducted to see whether it’s functional, hence supporting Ongom’s decision.
Cue in……Hangson on commissioning
His Worship Charles Makuru, the mayor for Rukungiri municipality, also supported fellow leaders citing that commissioning it in the current state puts lives of its neighboring community at stake.
Cue in………..Makuru on sludge
In response to the concerns, Vidas Engineering Services’ Eng. Phillips Moro maintained that majority of the issues addressed were not included in Bills of Quantities (BOQs) and that most of them had been resolved to ease their job.
Cue in……….Moro on sludge
The project, valued at UGX 2.5 billion, was declared complete by representatives from the Ministry of Water and Environment, led by Engineer Moses Bijure, and the consulting firm SMEC, represented by Engineer Philip Moru.
