The ambitious multi-purpose Health Science Laboratory Building project at Muni University, initiated in March 2019, has hit a roadblock, remaining incomplete for nearly five years. The university, in collaboration with Kisinga Construction Company, undertook the second phase of construction with an anticipated completion by 2022.
The construction, with a total contract value of UGX 9.4 billion, encountered significant hurdles, including the disruptive influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on construction activities. As of now, the construction stands halted at the ring beam level, with a mere 46% of the work accomplished, a revelation by the university management that draws attention.
The Auditor General, John Muwanga, highlighted concerns in his recent report, underscoring the deviation from the planned completion dates for the project. The delay, as noted by Muwanga, is a discrepancy that demands scrutiny and consideration in the broader context of financial accountability.
Muni University’s Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor Simon Anguma, shed light on the dual factors contributing to the setback: the global pandemic and insufficient funding from the university’s end. He pointed out that the university, in the Financial Year 2022/2023, grappled with a budget insufficient for its developmental needs, thereby impacting critical projects like the health science laboratory.
Had the university’s development budget been honoured in prior fiscal years, Anguma indicated that the health science laboratory project might well have reached completion. The financial inadequacy has inadvertently become a bottleneck, hindering the timely realization of an essential academic facility.
Eng. Joel Aita, Chairperson of Muni University Council, underscored the paramount importance of completing the laboratory project. The shortage of laboratory space, Aita argued, poses a significant obstacle to scientific research. He issued a heartfelt appeal to both the government and other stakeholders, urging them to allocate funds to expedite the completion of the project, fostering the pursuit of new knowledge.
“As the University Council, we appeal to all stakeholders and entities of goodwill to increase both technical and financial support to stir progressive development, promoting research agenda, rolling out new emerging research technologies,” Aita emphasised.
Established in 2013 as the Sixth Public University in Uganda, Muni University grapples with persistent challenges in executing critical infrastructure projects, mainly due to financial constraints.
