RDC Odongo wants Explaination on Shs16.8m latrine funds, cites neglect at Sub-County and Nakachunget HC II
BY OKIDI PATRICK
NAPAK — Government is phasing out Health Centre IIs nationwide and will upgrade all HC IIs to HC IIIs under phase III of the Uganda Government Investment Programme [UGIP], Napak Resident District Commissioner [RDC] Milton Odongo has said.
Odongo said Nakachunget HC II in Matany Sub-county is among facilities targeted for upgrade. The centre serves a population of 5,592, a number that has increased because Nakachunget Parish is now a resettlement area for migrants. “That is why the drugs delivered there do not take long,” he said.
UGIP III upgrade targets
According to the RDC, UGIP Phase III will cover the upgrade of 12 HC IIs to HC IIIs and six HC IIIs to HC IVs in the district.
GOVERNMENT TO PHASE OUT HC IIs, UPGRADE 12 IN NAPAK UNDER UGIP III
Nakachunget HC II is under pressure due to high patient numbers. The maternity ward records 302 deliveries in a month, while OPD attendance ranges between 400 and 700 patients per month as of June 2026. The facility has only three substantive staff on the government payroll, including one midwife.
Odongo listed several challenges at Nakachunget HC II: no safe drinking water, with residents depending on Arichek Dam amid a low water table; no drug inspector, though recruitment is planned for the new financial year; no incinerator; no staff latrine; no solar power; and no staff quarters.
“At night, deliveries are done using candles and torches,” he said, blaming the gaps on “weaknesses of the accounting officer at the lower local government.”
Shs16.8m latrine funds questioned:
The RDC said the district allocated Shs16.8 million in FY 2025/2026 under the District Development Equalization Grant [DDEG] for a staff toilet at Nakachunget. He has demanded an explanation from the sub-county accounting officer what happen to money? who got the money?, where is the money and why she should not be investigated legally?
“The sub-county accounting officer responsible for this construction will show cause why she should not be kept out of circulation in order not to poison other good people,” Odongo said. “This Kisanja is Kisanja no more sleeping on job.”
He added that the district has released the funds and accused “enemies of funds” at sub-county level of economic sabotage against the NRM Manifesto.
Acting In-charge of Nakachunget HC II, Grace Olanya Atim, confirmed the absence of an incinerator and staff latrine in a phone interview at 6:15 p.m. on Monday. She said the sub-county leadership informed them in March 2026 that Shs16.8 million had been earmarked for a latrine, but no construction had started up to now. She has been acting since February 2026 because the substantive in-charge is on sick leave.
Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition [KACC] Executive Director Dr. Ayub Mukisa confirmed that their community engagements found the missing latrine, no incinerator, and poor staff housing, solar panel among others. He said KACC will organise a District Integrity Engagement with the CAO, DHO, RDC, DISO, facility in-charge, and sub-county leadership to agree on action points.
Efforts to reach the CAO were futile as his phone was unavailable by press time.
Napak RDC Milton Odongo says government will phase out HC IIs and upgrade 12 in Napak to HC IIIs under UGIP Phase III. He cited overcrowding and missing infrastructure at Nakachunget HC II, and queried Shs16.8m allocated for a latrine. KACC plans a district integrity engagement over the gaps.
About the Author
