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Kitgum, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kitgum General Hospital administration is seeking 500 million shillings to construct a modern mortuary.
The facility that serves the entire four districts in East Acholi currently relies on a dilapidated mortuary that was constructed in 1938.
Bezy Omoya, the Kitgum General Hospital senior administrator says that the mortuary does not match the standards of a hospital mortuary.
The morgue is small, has no freezer and thus it can’t store bodies beyond two days.
Omoya says with the current growing patient numbers, there is a need to have in place a modern mortuary that can accommodate more bodies and be able to keep them for long in case they are unclaimed.
He says the hospital administration has set up a physical plan for a modern mortuary but are seeking for funds from the government.
The State Minister for Environment also the Kitgum Municipality Member of Parliament Beatrice Anywar says her office has already begun raising funds to ensure the hospital is renovated.
Dr Alex Olwedo, the District Health Officer says the hospital in the past missed out on major construction works by the Ministry of Health after a section of the hospital land had been grabbed by private developers.
He says although the hospital currently holds a land title for the 13 hectares’ piece of land, the opportunity has vanished leaving them to only benefit from minor renovation works.
Dr Olwedo says now their only hope lies in a Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP) under the Office of the Prime Minister which will see the hospital main infrastructures including the morgue constructed.
According to bills of quantities prepared by the district engineer, the modern mortuary will cost 499,615,717 million shillings. The total amount of money will help in fixing electrical installation, mechanical installation, fitting and furnishings, internal doors, windows and external doors, external walls and substructure.
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