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State Minister for Economic Monitoring Peter Ogwang has this afternoon toured Mulago Staff Housing Project to fast-track its construction.
The Minister who was guided by Mulago Hospital Executive Director, Dr Baterana Byarugaba commended the hospital and the contractor-Block Technical Services for the "progressive" ongoing works.
The Shs30.2bn project is expected to accommodate 150 health workers. The first phase of 110 units which was completed last year is already accommodating 110 nurses and other health workers. In the long run, Government intends to construct 4000 housing units. Currently, Mulago Hospital alone has more than 3,000 health workers.
The Minister pledged to follow up challenges that might hamper the completion of this project in time. Some of the challenges include; delayed and inadequate financial releases from Ministry of Finance. Dr. Baterana said that whereas Finance Ministry is expected to make advance financial releases of 30%, only 14% is released.
Minister Ogwang reechoed government's commitment to adequately support scientists to achieve effective service delivery. He warned health workers against corruption and inefficiency saying government is "sorting" their needs and there should be no other reason for their underperformance.
"I have started my national tour to check on all Government programs to ensure that there is value for money. I commend the management of Mulago for the work done so far. I have picked up their issues as far as this project is concerned and we are going to urgently find solutions especially on the issue of funding," Ogwang said.
"Of course I have found one or two issues here [at the site] and I will share with my technical team then others will be presented to the President or before cabinet. But so far so good, I am impressed by the progress of the construction works."
Ogwang said he will be carrying out quarterly economic performance of the budget per sector or ministry to achieve effectiveness and efficiency in terms of service delivery. This is also intended to reduce on postmortem reports from the Auditor General.
Dr Baterana called upon government to bring a law that regulates the employment of government health workers, saying that increment of health workers' salaries will not solve the problem for as long as doctors and other health workers are still allowed to run private pharmacies or accept employment from private hospitals.
Last week, Cabinet resolved to increase salaries of scientists including government health workers, doctors, science teachers etc. This new salary structure will see intern doctors earn shs2.5m and graduate doctors earn Shs5m. This is intended to motivate them, thus improving the doctor-patient ratio. President Museveni has often times emphasized need to enhance salaries structures of all scientists in the country.
