President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni has explained his orders to his wife and education minister Janet as well as health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng to use the services of the national army UPDF’s Construction Brigade in school and hospital construction projects worths trillions of Uganda Shillings.
On July 01, Museveni issued a directive to his wife first lady Janet and minister Aceng on the use of the army brigade to undertake government construction projects.
Museveni noted that the UPDF Army Construction Brigade had built capacity over the years and had been “very instrumental in implementing many projects ranging from simple to high level and advanced construction projects.”
The president further revealed that the NRM had injected a lot of funds and time in the UPDF Army Construction Brigade and it was time to reap the benefits of this investment.
After explaining how capable he believed the UPDF Army Construction Brigade is, Museveni noted he was convinced it would cure the corruption and procurement woes that delay government projects.
He has thus ordered that the construction of hospitals and schools work as a pilot project starting the 2021/2022 financial year, to determine if the UPDF Army Construction Brigade could undertake projects beyond the health and education ministries.
“Unfortunately, I have noted with concern that many of the government projects in other sectors are often delayed due to lengthy procurement processes, and in other cases, corruption perpetrated by unscrupulous government workers. I am very certain that we can avoid all these delays in implementing Government construction projects by utilizing the Army Construction Brigade to undertake these works,” explained Museveni in a letter copied to Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, defence minister, vice president Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
“This is, therefore, to direct that with effect from the FY2021/2022, all new construction projects for health facilities and schools must be undertaken by the Army Construction Brigade, as a pilot. This directive will be gradually extended to cover other sectors of the Government.”
The health and education ministries suffer some of longest delays with projects taking years to complete. Yet they continue to receive huge finding for construction projects.
