Nakasongola Health Center authorities have abandoned a newly built toilet facility citing shoddy work. In 2010, Nakasongola district hired a private company to construct a toilet at Nakasongola health Center IV at shillings 10 million. However, the toilet has remained under key lock since it was completed. Dan Kirunda, the officer in charge of Nakasongola health Center IV says that they have not open the toilet for use by patients because of shoddy work. He says that the plumbing was done poorly, affecting the water flow to the toilet.
Kirunda says that they constructed a rain water tank to improvise on the water problem but it was vandalized by residents. He says that they petitioned the district to direct the contractor to rectify the plumbing problem so that the toilet is opened up for use in vain. He says as a result, they were left with no option but to close the toilet. Kirunda says that they can't allow patients to use the toilet under the current situation and expose them to diseases associated with poor sanitation.
Nelson Muruli, a member of the Nakasongola District Health committee says that patients now use the dilapidated pit latrine to answer nature’s call. Shamim Namagambe, a patient at Nakasongola Health center says that the old pit latrine is too dirty because it is not cleaned regularly. She also says that the pit latrine has a few stances, which has led to uncontrolled disposal of human waste in the health center compound.
Namagembe appeals to the authorities to fix the new toilet facility are open it for use. Residents and councilors have asked the district council to investigate the alleged misappropriation of funds meant for the plumbing works. The district has instituted a committee led by Geoffrey Ssemanda, the Kakooge sub county council to investigate the matter and report back to council. Gerald Ssekito, the Nakasongola District Health Officer says that his department has taken over the matter. He promises to open the toilet after rectifying the plumbing problem. Nakasongola Health Center IV receives more than 100 patients each day.
