Gov't to Prioritize Completion of Moroto Remand Home

The Government has prioritized the completion of Moroto Remand Home after its construction stalled almost two years.

Fred Ngabirano, the Commissioner of Youth and Children’s Affairs in the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development and Focal Point Person for the Moroto Juvenile Remand says the ministry will first complete and operationalize Moroto Remand Home ahead of other regional homes in Masindi and Gulu.

At least 400 million shillings has been set aside for the completion of dormitories which are currently at roofing level. He explains that due to budget cuts, the ministry will build regional juvenile homes one at a time beginning first with the one in Moroto, where the district has allocated over 300 acres for its establishment in Musasi Village in Katikekile Sub County.

Ngabirano says the delay on the project was caused by budget cuts due to the covid-19 pandemic but the government has finally government allocated money for the completion of part of the facility and could become operational in March 2022.

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The first phase of the facility which is a boys’ and Girls’ dormitories should have been completed by March this year, but due to lack of resources, the project has been abandoned for 16 months. Now, there is hope the first phase will be completed in March 2022.

The government is currently constructing regional remand homes across the country to ensure that children who fall in conflict with the law are rehabilitated.

Once completed, the remand home in Moroto will comprise an administration block, staff quarters, sickbay, boys’ and girls’ dormitories, kitchen, dining hall and sanitary facilities.

It’s being constructed at the cost of 4.7 billion shillings by Gali Technical Services Limited.

Recently, leaders from Moroto district expressed dismay as works on the project stalled. 

Cosmas Ayepa, the Secretary of Works and Technical Services for Moroto district wondered why such a multibillion shilling project had gone silent for over 1 year without work. He noted that there were many children now in conflict with the law due to lockdown and closure of schools adding the remand home is the solution to such social problems.

“We need to know what is wrong with that project. Other projects have been completed, what is special with the Remand Home?” he demanded to know.

Once operational, juveniles from the region can easily access justice and rehabilitation services as they will be brought nearer the districts of the alleged commission of the offence.