"I have called the police to arrest Eng. Aziz immediately. This is government funding that must be properly managed. Construction cannot begin before the groundbreaking ceremony," Ms. Mbabazi stated. She emphasized her role in overseeing government projects and ensuring that funds are not misused.
The project, which involves building a new classroom block and a five-stance pit latrine, has raised concerns. Initially, the plan was to renovate two existing classroom blocks. However, the engineers decided to construct a new building instead, leading to the controversy.
"I noticed that the pit latrine is already built, and a new structure is under construction, even though the invitation mentioned a groundbreaking ceremony," Ms. Mbabazi pointed out.
The total project budget is Shs 189 million, with Shs 30 million allocated for the latrine and Shs 159 million for the classroom block and desks.
Wakiso District Education Officer, Mr. Fredrick Kiyingi, clarified that the decision to build a new block stemmed from the poor condition of the old classrooms. However, he admitted that work had begun prematurely, before the official groundbreaking.
"We realized the renovation of the old classrooms was not feasible, so we chose to build a new block. But we should have waited for the official ceremony before starting," Mr. Kiyingi acknowledged.
Engineer Aziz defended his actions, stating that his role was to oversee the project, while financial matters were handled by the District Education Officer. He explained that the contractor had delayed the project’s start by one and a half months.
"I wasn't available because the meeting was scheduled when I was away. I couldn't delegate my responsibilities," Aziz explained.
The Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Alfred Malinga, mentioned that he had requested the groundbreaking event in December, suggesting the delay originated from the RDC’s office.
"We are managing several projects across schools, and it will take up to two months to hold all the groundbreaking ceremonies," Mr. Malinga said.
Member of Parliament for Busiro North, Mr. Paul Nsubuga, stressed the importance of ensuring taxpayers' money is used wisely and efficiently.
Balibaseka Secondary School, which opened in 2005 with just seven students, now serves 1,400 learners. The construction of new classroom blocks and latrines aims to enhance the school's infrastructure and provide a better learning environment.
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