President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on soldiers to embark on the making of bricks as part of the measures to reduce costs of erecting buildings in barracks.
The President made the call at Nsamizi Special Forces Command (SFC) barracks in Entebbe Municipality on Friday where he commissioned the new Dr. Ronald Bata Hospital.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Construction Brigade erected the Shs.293 million structure.
“Soldiers should be guided into making bricks/blocks. This method would facilitate us in building hospitals, schools and other infrastructure in the barracks at low cost and we would build more facilities. The Government would only have the task of providing building materials such as cement, iron bars and iron sheets,” Museveni said.
The President noted that the construction of the new hospital would save Government funds that would be spent on treatment outside the barracks. He thanked the UPDDF for building the new facility.
He added that all the old houses in the barracks should be broken down and have new ones erected using the UPDF labour. He congratulated the SFC Commander, Col. Don Nabaasa for his role in setting up the new hospital.
He pledged to contribute brick-making machines to further reduce expenses. He said that he would return to facilitate the construction of new structures.
Museveni observed that the soldiers had few challenges such as clothes, food, guns and bullets while in the bush. He, however, observed that the situation today is different because they need education for their children and accommodation.
State Minister for Veteran Affairs, Maj. Bright Rwamirama revealed that 75% of the patients in the new hospital were civilians adding that there is need for the facilities to be provided more resources.,
The Chief of the Defence Forces Gen. David Muhoozi commended SFC for doing something tangible from the resources that Government provides them. He requested the Chief of Medical Services to provide equipment to the hospital.
