The Resident District Commissioner of Rukungiri, Bron Kyikanshemeza, has halted the commissioning of a newly constructed three-classroom block at Bishops Kasheshe Primary School in Buyanja Town Council, citing poor workmanship.
Kyikanshemeza stopped the handover on Tuesday during an official ceremony where he had been scheduled to commission the facility on behalf of the government. After inspecting the structure, he pointed out visible defects and declined to approve it.
“I cannot commission a half-baked structure,” he said. “The district engineering team and the contractor must correct the defects before this facility is handed over.”
School authorities raised concerns over the quality of the construction, particularly the flooring. Headteacher Annet Musasizi and PTA Chairperson Jessica Begyirira noted that despite a good exterior finish, cracks had already started appearing.
“We appreciate the new building, but the floor is already cracking. We are worried about safety,” Musasizi said.
Rukungiri District Engineer Julius Bagyira acknowledged the issue, explaining that such cracks could result from poor curing during construction.
“Floor cracks can result from poor curing when water is not properly applied during construction. That does not always mean the entire building is defective,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Kyikanshemeza commissioned two other classroom blocks, including one at Mabanga Primary School in Kebisoni Sub-county constructed at over Shs94 million, and another at Katojo Primary School in Buyanja Town Council built at Shs102 million.
The halted commissioning underscores growing scrutiny over construction standards in public projects, with authorities emphasizing accountability and quality assurance before project handover.