UPDF join residents to construct Nakaseke health center

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda People’s Defense Forces have taken over construction of Biddabugya health center 3 in Nakaseke district as part of activities to mark Tarehe Sita anniversary .

In 2016, residents of Kasangombe sub county in Nakaseke embarked on a community lead project to construct a new block to host Biddabugya Health Center III.

The current dilapidated block hosting the health center was constructed in 1988 and is on verge of collapse.

Fred Ssebutiko Wagaba, the officer in-charge of Biddabugya Health Center III explains that every day the facility receives between 80-100 patients but unfortunately they couldn’t administer some services to them over lack of enough space. Among the services that were suspended were admitting patients over lack of a ward.

Wagaba explains that the community with support from the Rose Namayanja Foundation embarked on construction of another block, but works stalled because of  lack of funds.

He says that when they approached UPDF, they embraced the project and have taken over the finishing of the block.

Wagaba adds that UPDF have accepted to do works that that include; plastering, partitioning the blocks, plumbing, electrical work, install glasses in the windows and others finishing works at a cost of 68 million shillings.

Warrant Officer Joel Ngwen, the foreman at the site from UPDF Engineering Brigade says that the works are part of activities to mark the 39th Tarehe Sita anniversary which will be held in the district.

Ngwen says they chose the project because it is spearheaded by the community and UPDF came in to strengthen them.

The residents and local leaders say that UPDF taking over the project was a relief. James Makande, the LC 3 chairperson of Kasangombe sub county says that they are happy that UPDF came to the rescue because the community is poor and cannot inject more funds in the project at the moment.

Makande explains that each home contributed at least 5000 shillings for construction and this was used to buy materials to start operations, but this wasn’t enough for the works.

Cissy Namitala and other residents say that many expectant mothers had abandoned the facility and resorted to walk long distances to Nakaseke hospital for health services.

Rosemary Namayanja Nsereko, the founder of Rose Namayanja Foundation says that together with the community over 200 million shillings had been spent before UPDF took over the site.

Namayanja says that the facility will host maternity, pediatric, mini theatre, laboratory, male and female wards among others after completion.

Ahead of Tarehe Sita anniversary, UPDF has planned to construct classroom blocks for Kikandwa and Buwana primary schools in Nakaseke in what they said aimed at fostering harmony between the forces and  communities.

According to a Press statement released yesterday by Brigadier General Richard Karemire the Spokesperson of UPDF, the Tarehe Sita celebrations will be held at Butalangu grounds at Nakaseke district headquarters on 6th February this year.

Karemire says that the area was chosen because of its historical role played during 1981-1986 liberation war. Karemire revealed that the celebrations will be held under the theme “Consolidating the UPDF Strategic partnership with the people to guard gains of liberation.

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