By Akankwasa Sharifu.
Kihihi, Kanungu.
Construction of a new maternity ward at Kihihi Health Centre IV is set to begin after the government released Shs600 million as the first funding for the project.
The Shs600 million is part of the Shs6 billion required for the project, which will be undertaken by the UPDF Engineering Brigade.
The official site handover was held on Tuesday, marking the start of the construction process.
The project follows earlier confusion surrounding plans to develop a maternity ward at the facility and the proposed upgrade of Kihihi Health Centre IV into a community hospital.
According to Kanungu District LC5 Chairman Francis Byamukama, consultations with the Ministry of Health helped clarify the situation and confirmed that the ministry had already awarded the construction contract to the UPDF Engineering Brigade.
The location of the maternity ward has also been changed. The new site, near the facility’s kitchen, has been commissioned, paving the way for construction works to begin.
Local government leaders said they are ready to work with the Ministry of Health and the construction team to ensure the project progresses smoothly.
“We are ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to ensure that the work moves on smoothly,” Byamukama said during the site handover.
Kanungu Resident District Commissioner Ambrose Mwesigye welcomed the development, saying the upgrade would help the health facility respond better to the growing demand for healthcare services.
“We are pleased that the health facility is going to be upgraded to a grade commensurate with the demand for healthcare services,” Mwesigye said.
He also appealed to the UPDF Engineering Brigade to complete the work quickly and urged the Ministry of Health to maintain consistent funding throughout the project.
“I appeal to the UPDF Engineering team to do the work expeditiously, and we hope that the Ministry of Health will remain consistent in the area of funding for the project,” he said.
The project is expected to improve maternity services at Kihihi Health Centre IV and provide better facilities for mothers and newborns in the area.
Those who attended the site handover included Kanungu District LC5 Chairman Francis Byamukama, Resident District Commissioner Ambrose Mwesigye, the District Health Officer, the officer in charge of Kihihi Health Centre IV, Deputy LC5 Chairperson Joshua Rukundo, and other district officials and stakeholders.
The release of the first Shs600 million clears the way for physical works to begin, with further government funding expected as the project progresses.
