Delayed Completion of regional blood bank frustrates Soroti hospital medics

SOROTI CITY, January 8, 2025 — Officials at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital are expressing frustration over the delayed completion of the Shs 3.3 billion Soroti Regional Blood Bank whose construction began in 2021.

Benzy Omoya, the Principal Administrator at the hospital voiced concern over the slow progress of the project, particularly the contractor’s lack of responsiveness.

“As a hospital, we are not happy with how the project is being implemented,” Omoya said.

He explained that the hospital has had to rely on the blood supply from Mbale, which has led to delays in blood deliveries and has put the facility under pressure due to persistent blood shortages.

“We need this blood bank operational as soon as possible. Geses [U] Ltd must complete the project construction without further delay,” Omoya added.

Omoya also raised concerns about the safety of the equipment already delivered for the blood bank, urging the contractor to ensure its protection.

Peter Nkurunungyi, the Director of Geses [U] Ltd cited financial challenges as a key issue that has delayed the delivered of the project as promised at the signing of the construction agreement.

“We encountered financial setbacks along the way, and, we could progress with the works as anticipated at the start of the construction of the facility,” Nkurunungyi explained.

Despite the setbacks, Nkurunungyi assured that his team was working diligently to complete the project and hand it over to the hospital by the end of January 2025.

Caroline Twinobusingye, the Clerk of Works at the hospital, emphasised the need to have the workers, and approved construction materials at the site to ensure the project is finished.

“The teams must be here working, and the approved materials should be delivered without delay,” Twinobusingye said.

Dr. Alfred Anyonga, Soroti’s City Health Officer, reaffirmed the city’s commitment to taking ownership of the project, just as it would with any other project of this importance.

The project, which began in 2021 under Rene Onei Investments, was later taken over by Geses [U] Ltd. It is currently 85 percent complete and is expected to be finished by the end of January 2025.

https://thecooperator.news/soroti-begins-second-disbursement-of-pdm-funds/