The construction of Moroto Remand Home has stalled. Gali Technical Services Limited is building the building at a cost of 4.7 billion shillings, which is paid for by the Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development.
URN has also learned that the COVID-19 pandemic caused budget cuts, which slowed down the project. However, the government set aside money to finish part of the facility, which was supposed to open in March 2022.
In 2021, at least 400 million shillings were set aside for the completion of dormitories that were at the roofing level, but since then, the project has been stagnant for more than six months despite being behind schedule.
For unknown reasons, George William Wopuwa, the Moroto Resident District Commissioner, observed that the project has stalled and seems to be abandoned. Wopuwa said he has tried to contact the district local government to find out why the project stalled but in vain.
Wopuwa says he has written several reports to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender but there has been no positive response.
David Koryang, the LCV Chairperson, says he is disappointed at the way the Ministry is executing the project at a slow pace. Koryang said that the district local government isn’t helping with the project, and that it’s hard for them to keep an eye on things that aren’t their job.
During the site visit, the URN reporter didn’t find any activity at the construction site in Musas village in Katikekile sub-county. John Maco, a staff member at Gali Technical Services, told URN that their boss abandoned the site because of financial constraints.
Maco said that the ministry had told the construction company to finish the project with their own money and get paid back later. Unfortunately, they have also run out of money.
According to him, there are only three staff remaining at the site since there is no work for them.
The Commissioner of Youth and Child Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Fred Ngabirano, has not yet said anything about the situation.
The government is building regional remand homes all over the country to help kids who get in trouble with the law get back on their feet.