Diane Gashumba wants this case investigated
Minister of Health has revealed that officials involved in rendering idle over Rwf700million injected in Mageragera incinerator, could face prosecution after an investigation file submitted to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).
This comes after Members of Parliament questioned the Minister, on why and what action taken on government purchased incinerator of which many of them don’t function but instead are costing government more in repairs and maintenance.
For example for nine years, the Mageragere site incinerator was constructed and installed in 2010 has not been put to use to effectively and safely dispose toxic substances that may be harmful to human health in Kigali.
The incinerator was supposed to burn down at least 2tons of waste but has not been able to as a result of wrong planning, but when it was imported, there was no land for installation and no water sources need for its functioning, resulting to spoiling of machine parts, Dr. Diane Gashumba, Minister of Health explained.
Gashumba made the revelation while appearing before the house of parliament this Tuesday to explain over 12 health concerns (such as poor services, lack of staff, and capacity) collected by members of parliament during a field survey conducted between January and February.
“The planning was poor and not good enough. In taking action, we have asked RIB to investigate the case and to see if there were criminal actions to be prosecuted or otherwise,” Gashumba said.
Rwanda has at least 57 incinerators across the country and at least 37 of them are said to be half-functioning status despite coming with environmental hazards such as water and air pollution in the surrounding communities.
Apparently government has initially spent about Rwf1.5 billion on supply and installation of incinerators in seven hospitals and Mageragere site, but the incinerators are either not in use, have broken down or are emitting toxic smoke that is dangerous to human health, the Auditor-General’s 2012/13 report indicates.
In order to resolve some of these concerns Minister Gashumba said that 11 of the incinerators have been privatized including that of the case of Mageragere site, which the central government agreed on as possible solution.
The 2013/2014 Auditor-General’s Report also shed light on the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), which has been under scrutiny over allegations of squandering of public resources on bad procurement deals involving medicines, mosquito nets and other medical implements.
MPs asked why the incinerator was purchased without a feasibility study and why it’s now being handed over to investors instead of government for fear that the former can charge more money contrary to capacity of health facilities.
“This equipment was too expensive and how comes you purchase the equipment before a study is done?” MP Madina Ndagiza asked.
KTpress contacted RIB to confirm the reception of the above Mageragere case file, and RIB Spokesman, Modeste Mbabazi, said that this will be confirmed as soon as possible.
