SOROTI COMMISSIONS SHS162M OPD BLOCK AT AWALIWAL HEALTH CENTRE II

By Abraham Ekwaru, Communication Officer, Soroti

Soroti District has commissioned a newly constructed Outpatient Department (OPD) block at Awaliwal Health Centre II.

The facility was commissioned on September 2, 2026, by Soroti Resident District Commissioner Hajji Imran Muluga during a ceremony attended by District LCV Chairperson Hon Bob Owiny, Chief Administrative Officer Emmanuel Ssempala, District Health Officer Dr Charles Okadhi, District Internal Security Officer, technical officers, local leaders, health workers and community members.

Constructed at a cost of Shs162 million by Homeland Construction Company, the OPD block is expected to provide a better working environment for health workers and improve the delivery of outpatient services to residents of Awaliwal and neighbouring communities.

Speaking at the commissioning, RDC Muluga urged health workers to ensure that the new infrastructure translates into improved services for the population.

“This facility has been constructed for the people. What is important now is to ensure that it is properly utilised to improve health services and that the community benefits from this investment,” Muluga said.

He also called on residents to protect the facility and work with local authorities to safeguard government infrastructure.

District LCV Chairperson Bob Owiny said infrastructure development must be accompanied by proper management and community ownership.

“Government has invested money in this facility, but its success will also depend on how the community protects and uses it. We should all take responsibility for safeguarding this investment,” Owiny said.

The Chief Administrative Officer, Emmanuel Ssempala, said the district would continue prioritising investments that bring public services closer to communities.

He urged health workers to use the improved working environment to enhance the quality and timeliness of services provided to patients.

“The infrastructure is now in place. We expect health workers to use this opportunity to improve service delivery and ensure that patients receive the services they need in a timely and professional manner,” Ssempala said.

The District Health Officer, Dr Charles Okadhi, said Awaliwal Health Centre II is among the facilities earmarked for upgrading to a Health Centre III.

Okadhi said the planned upgrade is part of the Government's broader health infrastructure plans and that the new OPD block provides an important foundation for the facility's future development.

“Awaliwal is one of the facilities earmarked for upgrading to Health Centre III. This is within the Government's plans, and the infrastructure being put in place is important as we work towards strengthening health services at this facility,” Okadhi said.

The LC3 Chairperson of Awaliwal, Peter Ebau, thanked the Government for the initiative, saying the investment would benefit residents who depend on the health centre for medical services.

“We thank the Government for this initiative. This facility is important to our people, and the improved infrastructure will help strengthen the services available to the community,” Ebau said.

Akello Hellen, a resident of area said the new OPD block would provide patients with a more suitable environment when seeking treatment, while Amoding Grace urged residents to protect the facility.

“This is our facility and we should take care of it. We appeal to everyone to protect the infrastructure so that it continues serving our community,” Amoding said.