Sunday, October 23, 2011

WE THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA MUST STOP ACTING SILLY: THE MPs WHO LEFT KYANKWANZI ARE HERO's

The MPs who left Kyankwanzi are the epitome of a new Uganda. We are fed up of a country constantly drifting to stone age times simply because of selfish interests who don't have any shame when the economy is messed up, everything is upside down, but they enjoy with their families.
2 Peter 2:19 ESV / 81 helpful votes

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka

MPs WALK OUT ON MUSEVENI
By Yasiin Mugerwa & Sheila Naturinda

Posted Sunday, October 23 2011 at 00:00

Why they walked way
Theodore Ssekikubo.
“When we saw that some of our members were conniving with the President to hijack the independence of Parliament we walked out.”
Chris Baryomunsi.
“I don’t take alcohol that I disregard what I debated on the floor so when they come on the floor to rescind them, I will definitely oppose them again.”
Cerinah Nebanda.
“My conscience wouldn’t allow me be part of a group which wants to hoodwink the public. Why didn’t we do it in the open but hide in Kyankwanzi?”
Henry Musasizi.
“I have never seen honorable MPs debate and turn around to say they debated with no information.”
Wilfred Niwagaba.
“We can’t be party to undermine the institution of Parliament.”
Nsereko Muhammad.
“Some of us are not willing to change Parliament resolutions because it is our country first. Let them have their views and we have ours.”
In an unprecedented response to what they called “a sinister plot to hijack the independence of Parliament and entrench corruption in the oil sector”, a group of legislators yesterday walked out on President Museveni at the party’s stormy Kyankwanzi retreat.
Those who witnessed this drama, told Sunday Monitor that the trouble began after the President proposed that the NRM Caucus resolve to overturn the Parliament resolutions on oil that placed a moratorium on executing oil contracts and oil transactions on the Executive until the necessary laws have been passed by Parliament.
“The President wanted us to give him power to proceed and sign new oil agreements as if nothing happened in Parliament and we thought this was ridiculous,” a source said. “We told him that we were not drunk by the time we passed a resolution to halt the signing of new agreements. We wanted to first see transparency and accountability before oil turns into a curse.”
When the President refused to budge, the retreat that had started on a lighter note, proposing ways on how to fix the strained economy later turned riotous with ministers led by Henry Banyenzaki (State Economic Monitoring) and other members from the Movement Secretariat heckling whoever attempted to oppose the President.
While Mr Museveni defended his ministers accused of being corrupt, some MPs were accused of conniving with the opposition to paralyse government using the oil debate.
But chief petitioner Theodore Ssekikubo told the President that by usurping the powers of Parliament he was attempting to tinker with the Constitution whose framers were unequivocal on separation of powers. But in an infuriated response, the President reportedly warned that if the NRM Caucus refuses to grant him the power to proceed with the status quo, “his only option will be going back to the bush.”
In a heated exchange between the NRM Chairman and Mr Ssekikubo, as others banked, tabled and heckled, the President was tasked to explain whether by going back to the bush he will be seeking to “overthrow himself”.
As debate raged on, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi reportedly proposed that MPs return to House with a motion to annul what Parliament had agreed upon. But the President rejected this and instead asked the caucus to give him powers to sign new Production Sharing Agreements; a move Parliament stopped until oil laws are enacted.
“The President wanted to arm-twist us but we rejected that proposal in public interest and we broke ranks. We told him that the NRM Caucus is not Parliament but he refused. When we saw that some of our members were conniving with the President to hijack the independence of Parliament we walked out and we don’t have any regrets to make,” Mr Ssekikubo said.
Other MPs who walked out of the President are; Dr Chris Baryomunsi, Muhammad Nsereko, Wilfred Niwagaba, Henry Musasizi, Cerinah Nebanda and Barnabas Tinkasiimire.

Forms and Extent of Corruption in Uganda
By U4 Anti Corruption
Extent of Corruption
In 2006, President Yoweri Museveni announced a policy of zero-tolerance for corruption. However, at the beginning of Musevini’s third term following the first multi-party (but not entirely fair) elections, most governance indicators show that corruption is perceived as widespread and endemic at all levels of society. Global Integrity’s 2006 report on the country estimates that more than half the government’s annual budget is lost to corruption each year, amounting to USD 950 million.
(http://www.globalintegrity.org/reports/2006/uganda/ind
ex.cfm).
Corruption scandals involving personalities close to those in power periodically hit the headlines. A former health minister and loyal supporter of the president, along with two deputies, have been charged with misappropriating USD 2 million from funds provided by the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) in 2005.
(www.yigg.de/sonstiges/uganda-ex-ministers-arrestedin-corruption-scandal).
More recently, in 2007, the government circumvented official procurement guidelines to contract an unknown company, Kenlloyd Logistics, to replenish Uganda’s fuel reserves. The company was being run by the sonin-law of the foreign minister, who is himself related to the president.
(http://report.globalintegrity.org/Uganda/2008/notebook)
Public confidence in government officials is severely affected by such scandals. A majority of citizens surveyed for the 2005 Afro barometer perceived corruption to be rampant. In addition, 36% of respondents to the survey believed that most or all government officials - whether at the central or at the local level - were involved in corruption. (http://www.afrobarometer.org/uganda.htm).
Other empirical data corroborates this. The 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks Uganda at 126th place with a score of 2.6. Previous iterations of the index show that, despite slight improvements, the various sources of the CPI continue to perceive corruption as rampant and systemic in Uganda, with scores ranging from 2.1 to 2.8 between 2002 and 2007. (Please see: http://transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2008).
The World Bank’s 2007 Worldwide Governance Indicators note that Uganda performed moderately in terms of regulatory quality (48.5) and government effectiveness (42.7), below average in terms of rule of law (37.6), and voice and accountability (33.2) and weakly in terms of control of corruption (24.6 compared to 26.2 in 2003) and political stability (13.9). (Please see: http://info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi2007/sc_chart.asp).
Further surveys conducted in the past five years confirm these findings. The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report for 2008-09 identifies corruption as one of the major constraints for doing business in the country, after access to financing. (http://www.weforum.org/documents/GCR0809/index.ht
ml).The World Bank Investment Climate Assessment undertaken in 2004, corroborates this finding with 46.3% of small firms and 56.5 % of middle size firms identifying corruption as a major or severe constraint to doing business in the country.
(http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTAFRSUMAFTPS/Resources/note_11_screen.pdf).
Forms of corruption Bureaucratic Corruption
Bureaucratic and administrative forms of corruption are widespread in the Ugandan administration, with practices of bribery, nepotism, and misuse of official positions and resources. Government bureaucracy, complex regulatory procedures and red tape provide numerous opportunities for corruption and rent seeking.
The 2006 World Bank-IFC Enterprise Survey indicates that more than half of firms expect to make informal payments to public officials to get things done. 80% of companies report paying bribes and make on average more than 30 unofficial payments per year. (http://www.enterprisesurveys.org/ExploreEconomies/?economyid=193&year=2006). Firms typically make facilitation payments to speed-up bureaucratic processes, especially to obtain licences, construction permits and/or customs clearance, or to connect to phone lines and electricity supplies. Large and foreign companies appear to be the most vulnerable targets for bribe solicitation, paying close to 4% of their revenue in informal payments. (http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTAFRSUMAFTP
S/Resources/note_11_screen.pdf)
Political Corruption
Political patronage and favouritism further characterize the Ugandan administration, with NRM patronage systems reaching into the private sector. In local government bodies, giving jobs and contracts to relatives or supporters appears to be common practice. A 2006 Freedom House report denounces widespread patronage and corruption in government, with the exception of the public, health and education service commissions that are generally credited with making open, merit-based appointments. Even here, however, there have been recent cases of interference in the appointment of senior officials in the ministries of health and of education and sports.
(http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&year=2008&country=7511).
In terms of political finance, the Freedom House report notes that regulations controlling influence over campaigns are not enforced effectively, with many instances of economic privileges given to investors. Although the government allocates USD 25,000 for campaign expenses to each presidential candidate, the ruling NRM party appears to be one of the greatest beneficiaries of the system, receiving funds from both
private and public sources. During the 2004 elections, 35% of respondents to the Afro Barometer reported having been offered food or a gift in return for their vote.
(http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=363&year=2006&country=7080).
Sectors Most Affected by Corruption
Corruption in Public Procurement
Public procurement is one of the sectors most affected by corruption in Uganda. According to the 2007 African Peer Review Mechanism Report, Uganda loses USD
258.6 million Annually through corruption and procurement malfeasance. The report further estimates that if the country could eliminate corruption in public procurement, it would save USD 15.2 million a year. In the assessment of the country’s Auditor General,
procurement accounts for 70% of public spending, of which an estimated 20% is lost via corruption. In June 2008, a senior World Bank official stated that high level corruption in procurement deals had been responsible for a loss of USD 300 million since 2005. He added that 70% of government contracts were not awarded according to established procedures, while half of the national budget is spent on procurement deals. (Please see the 2008 Global Integrity report: http://report.globalintegrity.org/Uganda/2008).
The US-Department of State Investment Climate Statements for 2009 also notes that government procurement is not transparent, particularly for defence items. In previous years, several high-profile government tenders for infrastructure projects were suspended due to allegations of corruption. (http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/rls/othr/ics/2009/index.htm).
The 2006 World Bank-IFC survey indicates that close to half of the firms questioned expect to give a gift to secure a government contract. Companies further report the gift value to amount to approximately more than 5% of the contract value. A baseline survey of National Public Procurement Integrity conducted in 2006 by the Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA), the Inspectorate of Government
(IGG) and USAID reports that illegal payments to secure government contract at both the local and the central levels are even higher, representing approximately 7 to 9% of the contract value. The survey further estimates that direct losses due to corruption in procurement - at both the central and the local levels – amounted to between USD 64-85 million in 2004-2005.
The majority of respondents identified the secretary to the Tender Board and Tender Board members as being most corrupt. (http://www.ppda.go.ug/downloads/Integrity%20survey%20FINAL%20REPORT%202007.pdf).
The PPDA, IGG and USAID survey identifies the lack of effective reporting systems, poor record management by state organs, the weakness of the judiciary, the poor investigation of corruption cases, and the lack of effective systems to punish corrupt officials, as majors factors contributing to the high prevalence of corruption in public procurement.
Corruption in Tax Administration
Uganda undertook a major reform of its tax administration system with the formation of a semiautonomous revenue authority, the Uganda Revenue Authority, in 1991. Surveys indicate that corruption is on the rise in the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), with instances of political interference, patronage and corruption at managerial level. There also seems to be an increase in the number of tax collectors openly demanding bribes in their dealings with tax payers. A 2005 CMI report on corruption in tax administration
indicates that 43% of firms report occasionally or always paying bribes to tax officers. 84% of respondents to the 2005 Afro Barometer believe that tax officials are involved in corruption. In 2003, five senior officers attached to the Large Taxpayer Department were involved in a major corruption scandal. A Commission of Inquiry of Corruption in the URA was appointed by the government in the same year due to serious allegations of underestimated or misstated declarations in customs, as well as collaboration between tax payers and URA staff. The Commission released a much delayed and debated report two years later whose legality was questioned by Members of Parliament. The report was ultimately nullified by the High Court.
(http://www.u4.no/pdf/?file=/helpdesk/helpdesk/queries/query147.pdf).
Corruption in the Police
The police are perceived as one of the most corrupt institutions in Uganda, particularly traffic police. 91% of respondents to the 2005 Afro Barometer believe that the police are involved in corruption, while 67% think that most or all police officials are involved in corruption. Few (about 17%) actually report having paid a bribe to avoid a problem with the police. According to the 2006 Global Integrity report mentioned above, political interference in police-work is commonplace, with high profile cases sometimes
dropped following political pressure. Investigations of police corruption have increased under the leadership of a new police chief appointed in 2005. He has, however, faced internal criticism and has received several death threats. (http://www.business-anticorruption.com/en/country-profiles/sub-saharanafrica/uganda/background-information/).
Judicial Corruption
According to Freedom House 2006 and 2008, the executive does not guarantee the independence of the judiciary and there have been instances of intimidation of the judiciary. In 2005, heavily armed soldiers surrounded the High Court in an attempt to courtmartial civilians involved in allegations of treason. Concerns about judicial independence were reinforced by security forces’ intervention in a politically sensitive trial in 2007. Judges subsequently went on strike to protest against the invasion of the courts by security forces, and the East African Court of Justice found Uganda guilty of violating the rule of law and the rights of its citizens by allowing the military to repeatedly interfere with court processes. The Uganda Law Society noted that this episode reflected a broader problem of government officials refusing to comply with certain judicial actions.
A Bertelsmann Foundation report from 2008
reveals that the upper levels of the judiciary demonstrate high standards of professionalism and independence. The administration of justice is undermined, however, by a lack of resources, skills and capacity at the lower levels of the judiciary.
(http://www.bertelsmann-transformationindex.de/63.0.html?&L=1).
According to the 2005 Afro Barometer, 73% of citizens think judges and magistrates are involved in corruption, while the vast majority of citizens believe high level officials are significantly less likely to be held accountable for serious crimes than ordinary members of the public. The US-Investment Climate Statement 2009 confirms these perceptions, reporting that several high-profile government corruption scandals have, in recent years, resulted in few or no sanctions against the officials involved. A significant
number of the companies surveyed for the 2006 Word Bank and IFC Enterprise Survey do not believe Uganda’s courts to be fair, impartial and uncorrupted.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

IN CORRUPTION RIDDEN UGANDA, SERIOUS EXECUTIVES NEED TO HAVE SOLAR POWER

It disturbs when you are doing serious work only to find a black out due to power. This is Uganda where many politicians fail to own up to their deeds and instead look for scape goats. An Executive with such problems when he/she has to meet deadlines has one option to fix solar power. A part from servicing it, it is the solution to corruption ridden tendencies in poor countries like Uganda where some of our leaders use office for own gain at the expense of the masses.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka

THE ROLE AND EXPERIENCE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION IN UGANDA.
Statement by Civil Society presented to the Consultative Group Panel discussion on Corruption, Kampala, 14 – 17th May 2001.


Introduction

Corruption is not unique to Uganda. Indeed is now recognised as a serious and pervasive international problem with diverse political, economic and social implications. Corruption affects small as well as large business. It affects the rich as well as the poor. It affects small poor countries as well as rich countries. However, for the big business and rich countries, the effect could be in gains to their economic well being. For the poor people and poor countries, the effect is adversely negative leading to economic stagnation, political instability, increased social inequality and marginalisation. Corruption affects economic growth as it distorts the costs of business transaction thus making lessening profits and making their services very expensive to the detriment of economic development in poor countries.

Who perpetuates corruption?

Although this list is not exhaustive, it is observed that the following institutions and groups of people perpetuate corruption:

a) Large international business corporations and their representatives who monopolise and control world trade and are interested in making quick and large profits from their investments irrespective of the effect their actions. They pay bribes to procure contracts for the supply of goods and services.
b) Senior government officials and politicians who are in charge of decision making and implementation of policies in their countries. They are for instance responsible for contracting for loans and privatisation of public enterprises, procurements for goods (e.g purchase of vehicles and equipment, uniforms, helicopters etc) and services (police, judiciary, tax collectors, health workers etc). Thus they bend all the rules to ensure that they serve their personal interests to the detriment of the economic and social development of their countries. GREED is the epitome of their work.
c) Donors and foreign governments who prefer to keep a closed eye even when they know that senior officials in government are not capable of presenting proper accountability for the money they spend. Foreign government have justified their support for rogue governments (Marcos, Mobutu, Suharto) on flimsy excuses such as fighting communism (today it is terrorism) even when they know such leaders are siphoning off large chunks of borrowed resources to foreign capitals.
d) The poor people in the poor countries who are victims of such greed for economic power and unaccountable government officials who are compelled to pay a bribe for the goods and services they receive. Corruption perpetuates their poverty and makes them more vulnerable to the individual interests of greedy and poorly paid public officials.

What has civil society done to fight corruption in Uganda?

Civil Society in Uganda has used a combination of approaches in the fight against corruption:

i. Public Education and sensitisation by Non-Government Organisations and other Civil Institutions of the public. Organisations such as Uganda Debt Network are presently carrying countrywide mobilisation of the people at the grassroots to demand accountability from public officials and resist corruption at all levels. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), however, lack the necessary resources and capacity to carry out extensive public education programmes on a sustained and long term basis.
ii. Media Campaigns and information dissemination. Without the media in Uganda corruption would not have been become a hot political issue in the recent presidential elections. The proliferation of FM Radio stations has boosted the campaign against corruption. However, radio stations have to be paid to carry out public education campaigns thus hampering information dissemination. Government decision to charge high license fees and taxes for community radios e.g those broadcasting in the local languages, should be reviewed and abolished.
iii. Increased research – Universities such as Nkozi and Makerere University have established research centres or incorporated corruption studies in their teaching programmes.
iv. Civil Society Organisations have formed an Anti-Corruption Coalition (ACCU) to organise jointly in the against corruption. Over 40 such organisations are members of the coalition. Every year, ACCU organises an Anti-Corruption week in October countrywide.
v. A Centre for Corporate Governance has been established to ensure ethical behaviour for Corporations in their business dealings.
vi. Civil Society Organisations have consistently campaigned for the improvement in the delivery of social services. Although a lot of money is being spent annually in areas such as health, education and others, these are also the same places where service delivery is terribly poor. For instance UPE money is diverted without any action taken against culprits, yet UPE is one of the most important pro-poor programmes of the NRM government.
vii. Civil Society Organisations are involved in the Monitoring of the Poverty Action Fund (PAF) through which the funds from debt relief and other donors are being channelled to eradicate poverty. Grassroots structures, Poverty Action Monitoring Committees (PAF/MCs) composed of local community people have been established in over 15 districts in Uganda.
viii. Civil Society Organisations have also set up the budget Advocacy Initiative (BAI) to ensure that budget allocation and expenditure are pro-poor.
ix. Civil Society Organisations are presently engaged with government to discuss coordination between them for effectiveness in the fight against corruption.

The civil society and all other initiatives need moral, financial and material support from government, donors and other institutions to carry out their work. Universities need money to carry out research and investigate the corruption scourge and its impact on political systems, economic development and social inequality. This would in turn help government review its accountability procedures and systems on a continuous basis.

Government Actions against corruption

On the basis of experience from our involvement in the fight against corruption, we want to emphasise that corruption is an institutionalised problem. This is because government officials involved in perpetuating corruption are senior officers who are also very influential. It is to be noted that large-scale corruption has taken place in government departments and the perpetrators have either been promoted or have been retired with their full benefits without causing an investigation to establish the facts. This has tended to send a wrong signal that Government lacks the political will to punish corrupt officials. It is also noted that even where reports by Auditor General and Commissions of Inquiry have implicated public officials, in most cases no action has been taken against them thus making such institutions appear useless. In some cases they have been publicly vilified by sections influential organs of government such as Members of Parliament when they try to do their job.

a) Government should be commended for the action against senior Police Officers resulting from the Justice Sebutinde Commission although it was delayed for over one year. We await punishment for those who amassed wealth from misuse of office and public resources.
b) The Government should also be commended for establishing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry chaired by the Eminent Lady Justice Julia Ssebutinde into the supply of junk helicopters in the Ministry of Defence. The commission’s findings should be used on the one hand to establish the facts since we believe and know that this only the tip of the iceberg. On the other hand, it should be used to develop open, accountable and transparent systems for procurements not only in the Ministry of Defence but in all government ministries and departments. There is no need to hide behind classified information that is available on the Internet in the present era of the information age.
c) The enactment of the Anti-Corruption Action Plan was welcomed by civil society organisations and the media as a way forward. However, since then there does not seem to be serious actions to implement it. If it is being implemented we do not have evidence of this as most of the anti-corruption agencies such as CID do not share information about their activities.
d) The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has done a commendable job. However, it is poorly resourced. It lacks the financial and human capacity to make an impact on high level corruption involving senior government officials and politicians and while collar corruption or internet and computer based corruption.
e) The Directorate of Ethics and Integrity was established to among other things “co-ordinate anti-corruption agencies” headed by a Cabinet Minister. However, to avoid political compromise, in future the directorate should not be headed by an elected representative.


What needs to be done?

• Civil Society Organisations have demanded for the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Tribunal headed by a competent person to deal quickly and decisively with corruption cases, recover stolen money by attaching and selling properties of culprits and putting the money back in the public coffers.

• The enactment of a Public Information Act (or Open Democracy Act as in South Africa) by Parliament should be put on top of the policy agenda in the next Parliament. This will enable the public and the media have access to vital and critical information on critical areas such as public expenditure. It will also instil discipline among the public officials who like to hide behind slogans such as “Top Secret” or “Confidential” while they are engaged in mischief.

• Government should review the role of the anti-corruption agencies with a view to strengthening them. Our concern is that there are too many and the central questions is whether the multiplicity of institutions is a facilitator or a hindrance to the fight against corruption. At the moment they are too many and poorly resourced to have impact. For instance sections of the Police CID should be merged with Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) so as to hasten investigations. And the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) should play its rightful role of inspection and enforcement of government rules, procedures and regulations such as the leadership code and government standing orders.

• The most perverse corruption is in the procurement of goods and services where government looses billions of shillings every year. Rules for the behaviour of International Corporations should be more stringent. An International Anti-Corruption Tribunal should be established to deal with corruption across boarders (The Global Forum on Corruption in the Hague at the end of May should be asked to approve this resolution suggested by the petition Civil Society Organisations).

• The policy of decentralisation should be reviewed to ensure that only high calibre personnel are employed in financial and administrative management positions at the district level by guaranteeing their tenure of office and stopping local councils from interfering in the recruitment of such persons.

• Donors, foreign government and international business corporations have more often been accomplices to corruption in poor countries. They should equally adhere to good practices of doing business. In addition they should help in the building of effective accountability systems that are open and transparent in governments where they operate through providing support for institutions such as the IGG and training of high calibre personnel to investigate corruption.



Prepared by:

Zie Gariyo
Coordinator, Uganda Debt Network

Friday, October 21, 2011

UTODA’s REACTION TO UTTERANCES ABOUT THE CONTRACT IS ONE OF UGANDA’s PROBLEMS

The way UTODA have reacted to the word going the rounds that their ‘official’ contract ends at the end of October 2011 is blame-able on State House. President Museveni needs to save the country. He needs to recognize authority of established institutions in place and ensure that these institutions do their constitutional duties. Many times when people react the way UTODA has all the time reacted, you just get to understand that those people has support and or backing from among other areas State House. It is no secret that UTODA has helped the NRM Government in a number of ways including having some of their boys cane people as if they were security operatives. If UTODA has a contract which was not signed by Kampala City Council authority, it should be null and void. The arrogance they exhibit which shows that they don’t respect their bosses in KCCA is simply unacceptable at our level of civilization, and State House should come clean over the UTODA matters. UTODA is not indispensable and even if they are relevant there is no way they can get contracts when not competitively competed for.

William Kituuka Kiwanuka
KCCA WITHDRAWALS PARK TENDER FROM UTODA
Kampala City Council Authority has withdrawn the park tender which it had awarded to Utoda to manage taxi parks in Kampala.
KCCA is to take over management of the Taxi parks and the tender which was to expire by 2014 has been cancelled.
According to KCCA physical planner George Agaba, Utoda never passed through a correct procedures to acquire the contract agreement which extends their tender from 1st November 2011 to 31st October 2014.
Agaba said that Utoda has only 11 days to hand over the management authority so that KCCA fully controls all the Taxi parks.
He said that the Contract agreement that Utoda is presenting which state that their tender was renewed for 3 more years are fake because they do not contain any signature from KCCA officials who have the mandate to sign on such agreements.
Agaba said that KCCA is to advertise and put up a bidding process in which it is to invite various eligible companies and bodies to bid and the eligible one will be awarded the contract. He said that Utoda is also free to apply.
Utoda is also accused of remitting less revenue compared to that collected. It is assumed that it collects over shs 2 billion but only remits shs 392 million every month.
The Executive Director Jennifer Musisi before her business trip to USA ordered the Revenue collection office to print stickers the Authority is to use effective 1st November.

UTODA ROW - KCC SETS OPERATOR'S DEBT ULTIMATUM

Robert Mwanje

2 July 2009

Kampala — Kampala City Council has given the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association [Utoda] up-to November 2009 to clear its outstanding debt of Sh1.5 billion or risk terminating its contract.
The City Finance Secretary and Kampala mayor Hajj Nasser Sebaggala said a new consent agreement has been signed with Utoda to have all arrears fully paid before end of year.

OTAFIIRE ORDERS UTODA TO PAY SH 148BN

Paul Kiwuuwa

15 March 2007
Kampala — LOCAL government minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has directed the Uganda Taxi Owners and Drivers Association (UTODA) to pay sh148b to Kampala City Council.
"I was not aware that UTODA owes KCC sh148b in form of rent arrears, but nobody is above the law and it has a collective responsibility to pay," Otafiire said yesterday.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

CAN GADDAFI BE DEAD?



If Gaddafi is dead, the African leaders who are dictators should get a great lesson. These dictators loot the countries they lead, take the loot to foreign banks. It is surprising that a leader with all that loot can decide to risk up to the time he is captured and killed in action. African dictators stand warned.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
COL. MUAMMAR GADDAFI DEAD

Published: October 21, 2011
Col Gaddafi is dead

SIRTE (Agencies) - Toppled Libyan strongman Moamer Gaddafi was reportedly killed Thursday in a final assault by new regime forces on the last pocket of resistance in his hometown Sirte, sparking wild joy and celebratory gunfire across the North African Arab country.
Though claims of his death were quite convincing and video emerged purporting to show Colonel Gaddafi being captured alive and bundled on to a truck, the circumstances of his death remained unclear till filling of this report. Fighters loyal to the National Transitional Council (NTC) claimed they found him hiding in a hole, and shot him when he tried to escape. But if Gaddafi’s death is confirmed, it will also confirm that he kept his pledge made with his supporters that he “will die fighting and will never flee his land”.
“We announce to the world that Gaddafi has died in the custody of the revolution,” NTC spokesman Abdel Hafez Ghoga said in the eastern city of Benghazi. “It is an historic moment. It is the end of tyranny and dictatorship. Gaddafi has met his fate,” he added. He said that the fugitive former Libyan leader’s death has been “confirmed by our commanders on the ground in Sirte, those who captured him after he had been wounded in the battle for Sirte.” The colonel, who was toppled in August after 42 years in power, was fighting in Sirte alongside his two sons, Mutassim and Saif al-Islam, according to reports. NTC officials said Mutassim was also killed in battle on Thursday. The man, who was hated at home for his alleged brutality and disdained in the West for his moral and material support to anti-imperialist forces, enjoyed great influence in Arab World as well as in many parts of Africa, before his regime was effectively toppled by rebels with the armed and financial support of the West.
He was also revered among many Muslims for his unflinching support to Palestinians and commanded great respect among the Anti-American Latin circles as one of the last iconic figures of resistance to the capitalists.
Gaddafi also won the hearts of Pakistanis with his exemplary support to the country, especially after the fall of Dhaka. He was a personal friend of the larger-than-life men like Bhutto, Yasir Arafat, King Faisal, Nelson Mendela and President Ortega of Nicaragua.
As anti-Gaddafi Libyans on the streets of Tripoli and Sirte fired automatic weapons into the air and danced for joy, most of the world leaders welcomed Gaddafi’s demise as the end of despotism, tyranny, dictatorship and ultimately war in the north African country.
NTC fighters who had fought in the bloody seven-month conflict that toppled the veteran leader at a cost of more than 25,000 lives, erupted in jubilation at the news, which followed earlier reports that Gaddafi had been captured alive.
A photograph taken on a mobile phone appeared to show the 69-year-old Gaddafi, toppled by NTC fighters in August, heavily bloodied. In the blurry image, Gaddafi is seen with blood-soaked clothing and blood daubed across his face.
A video circulating among NTC fighters in Sirte showed mobile phone footage of what appeared to be Gaddafi’s bloodied corpse.
In the grainy images, a large number of NTC fighters are seen yelling in chaotic scenes around a khaki-clad body which has blood oozing from the face and neck. The body is then dragged off by the fighters and loaded in the back of a pick-up truck.
Libyan television said Gaddafi had suffered bullet wounds to the head and stomach.
Another NTC commander, said one of Gaddafi’s sons, Mutassim, was also killed in Sirte. “We found him dead. We put his body and that of (former defence minister) Abu Bakr Yunis Jabar in an ambulance to take them to Misrata,” said Mohamed Leith.
“Saif al-Islam is trying to flee Sirte in a small convoy. Our fighters are encircling them,” another NTC official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters.
News of Gaddafi’s death came as new regime troops overran the last redoubt of his loyalists in Sirte, bringing to an end a two-month siege. Fighters moving in from east and west overcame the last resistance in the city’s Number Two residential neighbourhood where his diehard supporters had been holed up.
“Sirte has been liberated, and with the confirmation that Gaddafi is dead,” Libya has been completely liberated, a top NTC military official, Khalifa Haftar, told AFP in Tripoli. “Those who were fighting with Gaddafi have either been killed or captured,” he added.
Pick-up trucks blaring out patriotic music criss-crossed the streets of Sirte Thursday afternoon, as fighters flashed V for victory signs and chanted Allahu Akbar (God is greatest).
“We did it! We did it!” chanted the fighters overcome with emotion, exchanging well-wishes, hugs and handshakes against a backdrop of intense celebratory gunfire.
Gaddafi was wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity but Libyan leaders had said they wanted him captured alive so he could be put on trial in his home country.
NTC official Mlegta told Reuters that Gaddafi had been wounded in both legs early in the morning as he tried to flee in the convoy which Nato warplanes attacked. “He was also hit in his head,” he said. “There was a lot of firing against his group and he died.”
In Brussels, a Nato spokesman said two alliance aircraft on Thursday morning struck two pro-Gaddafi military vehicles near Sirte.
“At approximately 0830 local time (GMT+2) today, Nato aircraft struck two pro-Gaddafi forces military vehicles which were part of a larger group manoeuvring in the vicinity of Sirte,” Nato spokesman Colonel Roland Lavoie said in a statement.
A Nato diplomat said checks were underway to verify reports by the NTC that the convoy in which Gaddafi was travelling was stopped by Nato strikes.
However, the US government said that it was unable to substantiate reports that deposed Libyan leader Gaddafi has been captured or killed.
“The State Department cannot at this time confirm media reports on the capture or killing of Moamer Gaddafi,” State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said in a statement. Senior administration and Pentagon officials said they were working to verify the reports.
Medics said that at least three NTC fighters were killed and 30 wounded in Sirte on Thursday after 18 were killed and around 180 wounded over the previous two days.
The fall of Sirte marks a milestone. Libya’s new rulers had said that only once the city had fallen would they declare the country’s liberation and begin the transition to an elected government.
In the end loyalist forces were limited to a tiny enclave of less than a square kilometre which had been completely cut-off by the besieging NTC forces who controlled the entire seafront of the Mediterranean coastal city as well as all of its landward sides.
Sirte once had 100,000 inhabitants, almost all of whom have fled. Fierce artillery battles and heavy gunfire over the past month have not left a single building intact, while looting has become commonplace as NTC fighters take their revenge on the Gaddafi bastion.

LUKWAGO SHOULD BE GENDER BALANCED WHEN APPOINTING A DEPUTY



Lukwago should be Gender balanced when considering the Deputy Lord Mayor

It is bad news to see that some people in responsible positions don’t see the logic in gender balance. It defeats good understanding to see that the Lord mayor cannot realize the importance of gender balance at this moment in time when world wide there are strategies to see the inequality between men and women addressed.

I wish to appeal to The Lord Mayor to consider a woman whether NRM or opposition for the position of Deputy Lord Mayor.

William Kituuka Kiwanuka

UNDERSTANDING THE GENDER PROBLEM

Gender refers to socially and culturally defined roles, attributes, and privileges of females and males. Gender inequality may be understood in three dimensions; that is inequality under the law, inequality of opportunity in economic, political, social and other fields as well as inequality in dignity of the person between women and men. Gender inequality is a concern in the process of development because it is greatly responsible for the bad indicators associated with women the reason that explains the poverty and deprivation they are associated with. Gender inequality and poverty are the result of distinct though interlocking, social relations and processes. Women’s experience of poverty is mediated by social relations of gender. On the other hand, gender affects critical factors contributing to poverty risks: income, opportunity, security and empowerment. Gender inequality is reviewed in the context of capabilities (health and education), opportunities (employment, access to economic services, and time) and levels of employment (ownership of productive assets, participation in governance, and access to justice). Gender equality is not just a question of justice that women and men should have equal opportunities in all aspects of life; it is a question of good economics and is essential for development. Cross - country experiences have shown that in situations where technology or other economic conditions change rapidly, human capital will have a key impact on growth. One of the key lessons of development experiences is that development activities function much more effectively if all people are empowered.

In “Gender Inequality in Uganda: The Status, Causes and Effects,” Discussion Paper 11 of August 2006 by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, it was found that within households, women were more likely to fall sick compared to men. However, women received disproportionately less treatment when sick compared to men. Since awareness about HIV/AIDS is equally high for both women and men, the fact that the prevalence is higher among women is a result of unequal gender relations within households. Literacy rates are unequal with women having a rate far below the national average while the men are above. More females are unemployed compared to males; in urban areas, the unemployment rate for women more than doubles that of men. In rural Uganda, poor women work between 12 and 18 hours per day, with a mean average of 15 hours, compared with an average male working day of approximately 8 – 10 hours. The main source of discrepancy is women’s heavier commitment to their reproductive roles (child rearing/care of family members) and the additional responsibility for the family food security. At household level, it is the decision making that counts. In many cases men make the decisions because they are the breadwinners.
In Uganda, women’s rights are limited both by the inequitable legal structure and by traditional practice. Data shows that female – headed households have less land than male headed households. Women own only 7% of the registered land in Uganda. For all types of livestock, women headed households were less endowed compared to their male counterparts. It was also evident that women owned mostly chicken and goats. It is surprising to note that many women (70%) accepted domestic violence and could not report because the offenders are their partners. This is a sign of disempowerment.
The Gender Analysis of Uganda Household Survey Data 1992 – 2003 shows that female headed households were more disproportionately represented among the chronically poor, and the households moving into poverty. There is a well established link between education and fertility in Uganda.
UN Women, through the Fund for Gender Equality, Kicks Off New Call for Proposals on Women’s Empowerment in Arab State
UN Women Press Release
For immediate release
Media Contact: Oisika Chakrabarti, Media Specialist, oisika.chakrabarti[at]unwomen.org, +1 646 781-4522.
High impact political and economic empowerment programmes sought, grantees to be announced in December; other regions to follow
United Nations, New York — UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality, a grantmaking fund initiated by Spain and dedicated to advancing women’s rights and gender equality, announced today its second Call for Proposals, inviting women’s organizations and government agencies to apply for grants to support women’s political and economic empowerment. In recognition of the recent developments in the Arab States region, which have created additional opportunities for supporting efforts to improve the life conditions of women and girls, the first phase of the Fund’s 2011–2012 call will immediately focus on proposals that seek to empower women and their communities in this region.
“UN Women supports the participation and rights of women in the Arab States, and the Fund for Gender Equality can bolster women’s empowerment and participation during this time of transition,” said Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women. “We hope that these grants support women in their quest for democracy, equality and political participation.” UN Women administers and oversees the Fund for Gender Equality.
The Fund has set aside USD 16 million for its 2011–2012 grantmaking cycle, with USD 4 million projected for grants in the Arab States and more if contributions during this grantmaking cycle increase. Grants will start at USD 200,000 for initiatives that make tangible improvements in the lives of women and girls. The Fund will accept proposals from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the occupied Palestinian territory, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Applicants may download the Call for Proposals and Grant Application at http://www.unwomen.org/fge/application-guidelines/. The first set of grants will be announced in December 2011.
In 2012, the Fund will complete the second grant cycle by inviting grant proposals from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The Fund is one of the leading grantmaking funds on gender equality in the world. Created in 2009 with an initial contribution of USD 65 million (EUR 50 million) from the Government of Spain, it now has expanded with contributions from Norway and Mexico.
To continue to significantly advance gender equality and women’s rights through grantmaking of this scale, UN Women calls on UN Member States, the private sector, and individuals to contribute to this vital source of funding for women and gender equality advocates by contacting the Fund at fund.genderequality@unwomen.org.
For additional information, visit http://www.unwomen.org/fge/.

COUNCILLORS ENDORSE KIDANDALA AS NEW CITY DEPUTY LORD MAYOR

By ROBERT MWANJE

Posted Thursday, October 20 2011 at 00:00

In Summary

New tasks Mr Kidandala now joins Mr Lukwago at the top level of KCCA government amid accusations that the Executive Director Jennifer Musisi has usurped the Mayor’s powers.

KAMPALA

Kampala Capital City Authority councillors yesterday evening endorsed Democratic Party’s (DP) Sulaiman Kidandala as deputy Lord Mayor. The development comes after the Lord Mayor, Mr Erias Lukwago, failed in the morning session to choose between his two nominees – Mr Kidandala , a councillor representing Kawempe Division and Mr Bernard Luyiga of Makerere University and opted to put the matter to vote. The two are DP leaning politicians.

Prior to the voting, drama ensued in the meeting hall when Mr Luyiga was tricked by his NRM counterparts to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with them in exchange for support.

The approval
When the meeting reconvened in the afternoon for voting, Mr Luyiga sat on the NRM side but was shocked to see majority endorsing his opponent to take up the third top post in the KCCA hierarchy.

NRM councillors, who constitute majority of the council, had earlier vowed not to endorse any of the two nominees, saying none of them belonged to their party. “By the virtue of the authority entrusted to me, I appoint Sulaiman Kidandala the deputy Lord Mayor of Kampala City,” Mr Lukwago told the meeting.

Mr Kidandala was seconded by Councillor Angela Kigonya [Rubaga Division]. Out of the 31 councillors, 20 belong to the NRM while 11 subscribe to the opposition and some are independent. The meeting, which began at 10am at City Hall, suspended other businesses to fill the position of deputy Lord Mayor which has been vacant for at least five months.
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In his acceptance speech shortly after the meeting, Mr Kidandala pledged to work with Mr Lukwago and serve the people of Kampala to their expectations. “It is a great day for me and I thank the Authority for entrusting me with such responsibility. I am faced with several challenges but I will work hand in hand with him (Lukwago) to serve Kampala,” Mr Kidandala said. Section 9(3) of the Kampala Capital City Act, 2010 empowers the Lord Mayor to appoint his deputy from among the councillors.

Recently, the councillors grilled Mr Lukwago over his delay to appoint a deputy and steering committees, saying it had frustrated the Authority’s operations. Apart from appointing a deputy, the Lord Mayor is also expected to draft rules of procedure and thereafter spearhead the formation of committees that oversee the running of the authority.

Section 11(20) of the same Act empowers the deputy Lord Mayor to assist the Lord Mayor in the performance of his functions and otherwise deputise him in his absence.

While the new law governing Kampala gives the executive director more control over city affairs, the Lord Mayor and his deputy still have a big voice.

They are mandated to spearhead the formulation of laws, policies, and programmes and make sure that the technical team implements them. They also oversee their implementation. The duo also has a few other functions, which include presiding over the authority’s meetings, hosting foreign and local dignitaries and ceremonial functions.

rmwanje@ug.nationmedia.com

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

THE ORIGINAL CHOGM REPORTS

Chris Obore

Wednesday, 8 June 2011
The original Chogm reports is here but who doctored it?
Sacked former VP Prof. Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya is crying foul over his impending prosecution over abuse of office and causing financial loss to the government.
The MPs also joined him saying others should also be guillotined. Theodore Ssekikubo, the Lwemiyaga MP who never misses any opportunity to accuse Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa plunged into the debate demanding that his nemesis should also be charged.
A senior official in the office of the President, has given your investigative blogger a copy of the original draft IGG chogm report that pinned several officials. But the final report which has been used to pin Bukenya is different. Apparently, Bukenya has been showed the original report.
Sources say it was later doctored by the Ombudsman himself. Others say, the IGG officials did not do a good job,therefore wanted to find Kutesa culpable by all means.
According to sources, the IGG Raphael Baku is mean with the truth in regard to the Chogm investigations. After the report was handed to him for signing, intelligence sources say the man deleted some culprits.
Its is alleged that Baku was compromised after about Shs200million transaction. Your blogger is still verifying this very important and disturbing allegations against the Ombudsman. Others sources say the man was simply panicking because of his job. He is still in acting capacity and he wants to please the powers that be so that he gets confirmed as the Ombudsman inspite of his alleged poor management of the inspectorate.

Well, below is the 30 page draft report. Nice reading.


Draft
REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE PROCUREMENT OF 80 BMW 1200RT MOTORCYCLES FOR CHOGM 2007- BY MINISTRY OF WORKS AND TRANSPORT TS.122.2010.
1.0 BACKGROUND
Arising out of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) probe into CHOGM 2007 expenditure, the Inspectorate of Government instituted ||
investigations into allegations concerning irregularities in the procurement of 80 J|BMW 1200RT Outrider motorcycles. It was particularly alleged that the bidding H
process for the Motorcycles was fraught with procurement irregularities and •;:financial loss was occasioned to the Government of Uganda.
2.0 LEGAL BASIS OF THE INVESTIGATION
The Inspectorate of Government commenced investigations into the above allegations on the basis of the provisions of Article 225 (1) (a), (b) (c) and (e), 226, 227 and 230 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (as amended) and Sections 8 (1) (a), (b) (c) and (e), 9, (o), 10 and 14 (5) and (6) of the Inspectorate of Government Act (2002).
3.0 LAW APPLICABLE
i) The 1995 Constitution of Uganda(as amended)
ii) The Inspectorate of Government Act 2002
iii) The Anti Corruption Act 2009
iv) The Leadership Code Act 2002
v) The Penal Code Act
vi) The PPDA Act 2003
vii) The PPDA Regulations 2003
viii) The Public Service (Commission) Regulations SI 288-1
ix) The Uganda Government Standing Orders.









4.0 OBJECTIVES OF THE INVESTIGATION
4.1 To establish whether the 80 BMW 1200RT Outrider Motor cycles were irregularly procured without due regard to the public procurement procedures and regulations.
4.2 To establish whether there was loss of government funds and if so, to identify the people responsible so as to take appropriate actions.


5.0 SCOPE




5.1 The investigation was limited to the issues raised in the objectives above.
6.0 METHODOLOGY
6.1.1 Interviewed and held discussions with the following people: -


i) Hon. Sam Kuteesa - Minister Foreign Affairs
ii) Ambassador James Mugume - Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
iii) Charles Muganzi - Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport
iv) Kenneth Mugambe - Commissioner, Budget & Policy Dept, MOFPED
v) Eng. George Okurut - Chief Mechanical Engineer, MW&T
vi) Anthony Musumba - Ag. Head of Settlements and Payments, Bank of Uganda
vii) Anne Kwebiiha - the Head of Settlements and Payments (at the time of CHOGM), Bank of Uganda
viii) Lawrence Tabaluka - then procurement officer at MW&T
ix) Dorothy Birabwa - then Head of PDU, MW&T

x) Eng. Julius Tinkamanyire - Mechanical Engineer MW&T
xi) Eng. Francis Keeya - Senior Mechanical Engineer, MW&T
xii) Sam Arom - Customs Officer, URA
xiii) Isaac Chemtai - Customs Officer, URA
xiv) Denis Ayo - Principal Procurement Officer, MW&T
xv) Moses Banturaki - Sales Manager- Motor Care (U) Ltd
xvi) Lars Bjerre - General Manager -.Motor Care (U) Ltd
xvii) Fred Makada - Motor Care (U) Ltd - Company Lawyer
6.1.2 The following requests were made:-
i) H.E the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany was requested to contact BMW Motorrad for information on the sale of BMW Motor Cycles to Motorcare (U) Ltd.
ii) Kenya Anti Corruption was requested to obtain information from Mashariki Motors on their bid for supply of BMW Motorcycles to Government of Uganda.
6.2 The following documents were retrieved and examined: -
i) Minutes of meetings of the CHOGM Cabinet Sub-Committee on Transport
ii) Procurement process records
iii) Signed Contract between Uganda Government and M/S Motor Care (U) Ltd
iv) Irrevocable letter of credit by Ministry of Works and Transport in favour of Motorcare Uganda Ltd
v) Memorandum and Articles of Association of M/S Motorcare Uganda Ltd
vi) Airway bills


































vii) Customs Declaration records
viii) Cargo release orders
ix) Bills of entry
x) Delivery notes and certificates of acceptance
xi) Invoice from Motorcare Uganda Ltd to Ministry of Works and Transport
xii) All payment schedules against letter of credit from Bank of Uganda
xiii) Inspection report
xiv) Log Books


7.0 FINDINGS
7.1 BACKGROUND
7.1.1 The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, abbreviated to CHOGM, is a biennial summit meeting of the heads of Government from all Common Wealth nations. Every two years the meeting is held in a different member state, and is chaired by that nation's respective Prime Minister or President who becomes the Common Wealth Chairperson in office. Recently, meetings have been attended by Queen Elizabeth II who is the Head of the Common Wealth although the Queen's formal appearance only began in 1997.
7.1.2 The first CHOGM was held in 1971, and there have been twenty-one held in total. The most recent in Trinidad and Tobbago in 2009.
7.1.3 In December 2003, a notification was made in Abuja for Malta to host CHOGM in 2005 and Uganda to host in 2007. Accordingly therefore, the Government of Uganda hosted CHOGM from 23rd to 25th in November 2007.
7.1.4 Uganda as the host country was mandated to put in place facilities that met with the requirements of the Commonwealth Secretariat which were in accordance with the specifications contained in the guidelines (The Blue Book) and budget for the organization of CHOGM.
7.1.5 The Government of Uganda through the Cabinet went ahead and approved the organizational framework for Uganda's hosting of CHOGM which included the formation of a Cabinet Sub Committee and the National Task force. The responsibilities of these two organs were to provide the political framework for supervising and coordinating the implementation of all planned activities.
7.1.6 In a meeting held on 6th, September, 2004, the Cabinet Sub- Committee began its CHOGM preparations and agreed on a number of issues including financing of the work of the National Task Force, and approving competent officers to work on the Task Force among other issues.
7.1.7 Investigations established that the Cabinet Sub Committee meetings were in most cases chaired by H.E the Vice President Prof Gilbert Bukenya except when the President H.E Yoweri Museveni attended in person. In the absence of the President and the Vice President, a Cabinet Minister would chair the meetings.



8.0 TRANSPORT FOR CHOGM 2007
8.1.1 In the Cabinet Sub Committee meeting held on 15th, February 2005 under Minute 3/2005 the meeting was informed that the Government would be expected to provide appropriate transport for Heads of State, Commonwealth Secretariat staff, delegates and special guests who would include Heads of Regional and International organizations (Appendix 1)
8.1.2 The CHOGM guide lines required that the host country prepare a detailed operational plan for transport requirements which would primarily take care of the movement of delegations throughout the duration of the conference. Page 42 of the Blue Book paragraph 4 on "transport for Heads of delegation" thus provided that; " The primary focus should be on the movement of Heads of Government from their arrival in the host country to their departure" (Appendix 2)
8.1.3 The Blue book also required that the host country procure a variety of vehicles to include specially armored vehicles for leaders, luxury cars and security escorts among others.
8.1.4 The Transport Sub Committee under the Ministry of Works and Transport (MWT) was mandated to procure vehicles for the CHOGM event. The vehicles were to include executive cars, police motorcycles, lead cars, ambulances, command vehicles and patrol vehicles. The Transport Sub Committee hence drew up plans and also made an assessment of the vehicles that would be required to facilitate both the Heads of Government and the delegates. Among other transport facilities it was decided that the Government of Uganda would require 80 Police Motorcycles.
9.0 THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR THE 80 BMW MOTORCYCYLES
9.1.1 In their letter to the PS/MW&T, Ref. OPS 175/245/01/31 dated 28/03/2006 -
"Procurement of Police Out Rider Motorcycles and Lead cars for
•CHOGM", Uganda Police indicated that they preferred BMW R1200RT
motorcycles and they proposed that selective procurement be used in order to
enable them acquire the desired models. (See Appendix3}
9.1.2 On 24th May 2006 the Transport Sub-committee in the MWT wrote to Uganda Police rejecting the proposed procurement by brand on the ground that it is not




permitted under the PPDA Act because it stifles competition. Uganda Police was asked to justify their choice of BMW.
9.1.3 In his letter Ref. OPS 175/245/01 of 26th May 2006, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) outlined reasons for direct purchase of BMW 1200cc outrider motorcycles for use during CHOGM. He explained that the choice was based on the need to standardize their fleet because at that time the force already had 23 units of BMW motor cycles with competent riders who had also been trained in their maintenance. (See Appendix4)
9.1.4 Despite the request by Police, Ministry of Works and Transport decided to advertise for provision of Transport and related services for the CHOGM 2007 in the New Vision of 5th and 8th June 2006, the Monitor of 31st May and 5th June 2006 and the East African Newspapers of 5th - 11 June 2006. (See Appendix 5)
9.1.5 During the 11th Meeting of the Cabinet Sub Committee held on the 11th July 2006, it was decided that the tendering process be halted until the details of the type of vehicles and the mode of hiring are worked out/determined. The decision on motor vehicles included motorcycles. (See Appendix 6)
Consequently on 14th July 2006, the PS MW&T issued a notice in the newspapers halting the procurement process indefinitely in order to allow consultations with other stakeholders like the Transport Sub Committee and the Cabinet Sub Committee. (See Appendix?)
9.1.6 Minutes of the 15th Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting held on 20th November 2006, indicated that Hon. Sam Kuteesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs informed the Committee that he had written to some companies and only Motor Care (U) Ltd (the eventual winner) had come up with the proposal willing to lease or sell vehicles and Motor cycles for the Police Outriders. Hon. Kuteesa did not disclose to the meeting the other companies that he had written toPargraph 2 of the record of the minutes provided as follows;
"Hon Sam Kuteesa informed the meeting that he had written to some
companies but that so far only one company, Motorcare, had come up
with the proposal to sell 30 of the BMW BOO series and lease 3O more
of the same capacity for the principals. He further explained that the
company was also willing to lease or sell 12O more of the BMW 300
series , 120 BMW motorcycles for the police outriders and 6O Nissan
Hard body single cabins for the police lead cars."









It-was recommended in the same meeting that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Works and Transport and the Sub-Committee on Transport work out the modalities (of (procuring the vehicles and Motorcycles from Motorcare (U) Ltd)(See Appendix8)
9.1.7 In a letter dated 25th, April 2007 the Inspector General of Government wrote to the Executive Director of the CHOGM Secretariat asking her_aroong other things
3tfw^ t^-U/Khe-C^v -^KJI_2
to clarify on the role of the Hon^Minister of Foreign Affairs in soliciting for proposals from service providers. (Appendix9)
9.1.8 In her response she referred the IGG to the letter written by the Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs to the IGG dated 30th, April, 2007.
9.1.9 In his letter dated 30th, April 2007 and in response to the IGG'S letter the Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs denied writing to the service providers. He stated as follows; (Appendix 10)
"I wish to inform you that I did not write to companies inviting them to express their interests in supplying vehicles and opening proposals you state in your letter, that was the work of the Ministry of Works and Transport"
9.1.10The Ag. Inspector General of Government on 13th April 2011 wrote to Hon Sam Kuteesa asking him to avail copies of the letters he wrote to companies asking for their willingness to sell or lease to government vehicles for CHOGM 2007 and to explain why the letters were written by him and not the appropriate body in the Ministry of Works and Transport that is mandated to handle procurement matters. (See Appendix 11.)
9.1.11 In his reply to the Inspectorate in a letter dated 21st, April, 2011, Hon. Sam Kuteesa stated that he had failed to locate the letters. He further stated as follows "with regards to why I wrote the letter (\.o the companies), it was not because I wanted to take over the procurement role but because all along we had been working on the premises that there would be outright purchase of vehicles. When a policy decision was made that we should lease rather than buy vehicles I simply communicated a change of policy to those companies to find out if they were willing to operate under a changed policy, Of course the procurement would as it was be undertaken by the Ministry of Works and transport" (Appendix f 12)


NB: It can be noted at this point that the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs made two statements that were contradictory and inconsistent. He initially denied writing to the companies then changed his statement and accepted that he had written even though he could not locate the letters.
9.1.12 In his statement to the Inspectorate of Government, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport who was Accounting officer at the time of CHOGM preparations stated as follows;
"On 20th November 2006, Hon Sam Kuteesa handed to me documents in an envelope. This was a quotation from Motorcars for . leasing/outright selling of BMW vehicles to Government. This quotation included supply of BMW Motorcycles and Nissan Pickups and lead vehicles" (Appendix 13)
9.1.13Following the 15th Cabinet Sub Committee meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Sam Kuteesa on 24th November 2006 wrote to Hon. John Nasasira MW&T and indicated to him that BMW had confirmed willingness to lease vehicles to government under specifically agreed terms as specified in their offer which he had handed to the Permanent Secretary MW&T. (See Appendix 14)
9.1.14 In his letter dated 24th, November 2006 the Minister stated as follows; "Kindly refer to Minute 7 of the Of Cabinet Sub Committee on CHOGM in which it was decided that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Works and Transport meet to work out the modalities for leasing the vehicles for CHOGM O7.....................as indicated on 20th November 2006, to the
Cabinet Sub Committee, BMW has now confirmed willingness to lease vehicles to government under specifically agreed terms as specified in the offer which I handed to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of . Works and Transport........"(See Appendix 15).
9»1.15The Permanent Secretary MWT Mr. Charles Muganzi, routed Hon. Kuteesa's letter to Eng Okurut the Chief Mechanical Engineer to handle. On 1st December 2006, Eng. Okurut in turn wrote to the Secretary Contracts Committee and informed them that M/S Motorcare Uganda Limited, the local representatives of the BMW Manufacturer of the motorcycles, had been consulted and they had agreed to submit an official quotation.

9.1.16 Eng. Okurut further stated that the Contracts Committee should seek special dispensation from PPDA for direct procurement. In the same letter the Engineer



sought for approval of the bid document, shortlist and membership of the Evaluation team for the procurement of Motorcycles.
9.1.17 It must be noted that a market survey had been done by Eng Julius Tinkamanyire of Chief Mechanical Engineer's Department to determine the indicative cost of the motorcycles. Subsequently PP Form 20 was filled and endorsed by the Chief Mechanical Engineer, Director of Transport and Permanent Secretary, MW&T indicating that 80 BMW R1200RT motorcycles would cost Shs.4b/= , i.e. Shs.50m/= or Euros 21,645 per unit. (SeeAppendix 16)
9.1.18During the 16th Meeting of the Cabinet Sub Committee held on 4th December 2006, the Chairman, H.E. the Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya stated that "The decision on Transport that was taken during the 15th Cabinet Sub Committee on CHOGM was final...All other companies that were coming up with proposals should not be considered. "(See Appendix 17)
9.1.19 Following this directive, the Permanent Secretary MW&T on 18th December 2006, wrote to the Executive Director PPDA requesting for a waiver of open • direct tendering to allow direct procurement. (See Appendix 18)
9.1.20 In a consultative meeting of 12th February 2007 on CHOGM procurements chaired by H. E the President of the Republic of Uganda and attended by the Executive Director PPDA, the President wondered why PPDA was not granting waivers for purchase from single (reliable) source (Supplier).
9.1.21 In response, the Executive Director of PPDA Mr. Edgar Agaba explained that: "PPDA allowed direct procurement (sourcing from one company), but that the users were required to provide sufficient information to justify the direct method. PPDA called for transparency in the processes i.e. that the cost of projects and unit cost to be disclosed by Ministries so as to eliminate possibilities of inflating prices, giving examples of BMW motorcycles required by the Police Force, whose prices were not indicated in the request for the direct procurement"
9.1.22 H.E. the President emphasized adherence to transparency in all procurement
' processes, emphasizing that for direct procurement/single sourcing for items
which were time bound, detailed -information should always be provided to
enable PPDA make urgent but well informed decisions. He further directed the
Executive Director of PPDA to avail him copies of the documents which were submitted relating to procurement of motorcycles by the Police Force. (See Appendix 19)





9.1.23 On 21st February 2007, the Executive Director PPDA Mr. Edgar proposed a list of three known companies dealing in automobiles which included those specifically for BMW, and advised use of Restricted Tendering in order to achieve value for money. (See Appendix 2O)
9.1.24The companies proposed were namely: Motorcare Uganda Ltd of , Uganda, Mashariki Motors Ltd of Kenya and South Africa Dayang Motor Corporation .
9.1.25 On 7th March 2007, the Contracts Committee of MW&T under Minute. 130/03/07 observed as follows :
i) That PPDA, after meeting officers from MW&T and Police, cleared the Ministry vide their letter PPDA/M20/00 dated 21st February 2007 to use restricted bidding using renowned dealers of fleet brand,
ii) That the MW&T/Police selected three firms out of the list provided by the PPDA that these were the representatives of manufacturers of the preferred BMW R1200RT Police Outrider Motorcycles,
Hi) That dully endorsed PP Form 20 was submitted to confirm availability of funds,
iv) That evidence that the three firms are local representatives of the manufacturers and offer after sales services was submitted.
9.1.26 On the 7th of March 2007 , the Contracts Committee approved the tender document under the restricted international bidding method and short listed the following companies namely; M/S Motorcare (U) Ltd, M/S Mashariki Motors Ltd (Kenya) and M/S South Africa Dayang Motor Corporation. (See Appendix21)
9.1.27 Investigations established that Motor care (U) Ltd was short listed even when it did not have a dealership agreement or letter of authorization from BMW. The letter of authorization from BMW Germany to Motorcare (U) Ltd is dated 21 March 2007. This letter was presented long after the short list had been made. (See Appendix 22)
11









9.1.28 The assertion by the Contracts Committee that they had got evidence that the three firms were local representatives of manufactures was incorrect because at . that time Motorcare Uganda Limited had not got authorization from BMW.
10.0 ISSUING OF SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS
10.1.1 The solicitation document was issued to the bidders on 12/03/2007 using PP Form 31 for 80, 2007, BMW R 1200RT Police Outrider Motorcycles of German origin. (See Technical requirements as detailed in the Bid Document pages 35 and 36)
10.1.2 A copy of PP Form 31 obtained from Head of Procurement and Disposal Unit, MW&T indicated that M/S Motorcare Uganda Ltd received the tender document on 15th March 2007, M/S Mashariki Motors signed for the solicitation document on 21st March 2007 and Dyang Corporation On 20th March 2007. (See Appendix 23)
10.1.3 Investigations have established that on the record of receipt of bids on PP Form ' 34, only Motor Care (U) Ltd returned and submitted its bid on 30th March 2007. (See Appendix 24)
11.0 OPENING OF BIDS
ll.l.l The bids were opened on 30/03/2007 at 11:00 a.m. in the Ministry of Works Contacts Committee Board Room. The bid opening Form PP 35 shows that only one bidder; M/S Motorcare Uganda Ltd returned the bid which was opened and read out at a cost price of Euro 2,288,240 for 80 motorcycles. (See Appendix 25)
11.1.2 The investigation team however obtained a letter dated 29/03/2007 allegedly submitted by M/S Mashariki Motors Ltd of Kenya withdrawing their bid due to "unavoidable circumstances". The letter was addressed to the Mechanical Engineer, Old Port Bell Road but it was endorsed with Bid Opening stamp of PDU, MW&T dated 30/03/2007. (See Appendix26)
11.1.3 The investigation team interviewed Ms Dorothy Birabwa the then Head, PDU . and her former staff on the issue of the withdrawn bid by Masahariki Motors. They however all denied recieveing the Mashariki bid and stated that only one bid from Motorcare Uganda Ltd was received as indicated on PP Form 34.





11.1.4 Mr. Tabaluka then Procurement Officer claimed there was even no representative of Mashariki Motors Limited present at the opening of the bid. He further stated that the letter could have been brought in by trickery to deceive that a bid had been withdrawn in order to leave Motorcare Uganda Ltd a sole bidder.


11.1.5 During investigauens, the inspectorate ofQovernment requested the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) to trace Mr. Harrison the General Manager of Mashariki Motors Ltd to explain under what circumstances the company had withdrawn its bid at the last minute yet the company was a well known authorized dealer of BMW Motorcycles. (SeeAppendix27}
11.1.6 In their response, the KACC furnished the Inspectorate with the statements of Mr. Harrison and Mr. Gecaga. Mr. Harrison alleged that he was only the service manager at Mashariki Motors . He worked with Mashariki up to October 2008 when the BMW dealership was moved from Mashariki to Bavaria motors.He denied involvement in the tender (to supply BMW Motorcycles for CHOGM 2007) pointing all responsibility to Mr. Gecaga.
11.1.7 In his statement he observed that "sometime in 2007, the Managing Director of Masahriki Motors Mr. Gecaga informed us to prepare the pricing of BMW Motorcycles from Germany. ...I recall we signed pricing documents which I suppose were sent to BMW Germany and to Uganda. As at this I did not know who was requisitioning for the bikes... I recall that after the documents were sent to Germany, after a couple of weeks, Germany asked us to withdraw the tender. On instructions of Mr. Gecaga , I wrote to withdraw letter to Uganda which went under my signature. Mr. Gecaga never explained why Germany asked us to withdraw the tender." (Appendix 28)
ll.l.8 In Mr. Gecaga's statement which was provided to the Investigation team by KACC he denied involvement in the tender to supply BMW Motorcycles and the issue of the withdrawn bid. He however stated that in the year 2005 the shareholders of Mashariki entered into a joint venture agreement to sell the business of BMW dealership to a Danish investment group called Kjaer Group. This was with BMW approval and was to be for a period of three years.
11.1.9 He further observed that " when the inquiry of the procurement of the BMW Motorcycles by the Ugandan Government came it must have
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come to Maganga who would have to deal with Harrison, being the technical person and finally BMW Group. Personally I would not be involved in this, I never wrote any letters, I never dealt with the Ugandan Government or BMW Group over this matter. Also I don't know why the tender never went through(withdrawn) but the instructions for withdrawal must have come from BMW"(Appendix 29)
11.1.10 Investigations confirmed that Mashariki Motors had a formal dealership with BMW Germany spelling out terms and conditions of the dealership. On the other hand Motorcare (U) Ltd availed to the PDU a plain letter referenced as "Manufacturer'sAuthorization Letter" from BMW Germany.
11.1.11 The investigation team obtained and analyzed the Annual Accounts for Motorcare Uganda Ltd for the Year Ended 31 December 2007. "The Company's Affairs" show that "Motorcare Uganda Limited holds the distribution rights for NISSAN vehicles and SUZUKI motorcycles....."there is no
mention of BMW and yet this was the time when Motorcare Uganda Limited had just supplied BMW products to the Government of Uganda.
12.0 EVALUATION OF BIDS
12.1.1 Investigations established that Evaluation Committee Members comprised the following persons:
1. Kenneth Mugambe, Commissioner/Budget &Policy Dept - MOPPED; Chairman
2. Dr. Isaac Ezati, Deputy Director - Mulago Hospital; Vice Chairman
3. Juma Walusimbi, Director Communications - Bank of Uganda; member
4. Eng. George William Okurut, Chief Mechanical Engineer - MW&T; member
5. Albert Akovuku, Chief transport Officer - State House; member
6. Capt. Gerald Ahimbisibwe, Brigade Internal Auditor - PGB; member
7. Mary Nankabirwa, State Attorney - Ministry of Justice & Const. Affairs, member
8. Onzima Nyakuni, Staff Officer/Operatios - Uganda Police Force; member
9. Francis Keeya, Senior Mechanical Engineer - MW&T; Secretary.
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12.1.2 0f the three firms invited to bid, only M/s Motorcare Uganda Ltd responded and the bid was subjected to the three stages of evaluation. Investigations established that although bids were sent to Motorcare, the bid returned had a joint venture with Europcar.
12.1.3 During preliminary examination Motorcare (U) Ltd submitted a trading license no. 0066761 which had expired on the 31st December 2006. It did not submit an Original Dealership Agreement and merely provided a letter of guarantee of supplies of BMW motor cycles which the evaluation committee construed as compliant with the requirement and recommended Motor care (U) Ltd for further evaluation.
12.1.4 It has been established that the Entity wrote to both PPDA and the solicitor General requesting for guidance on the issue of the trading licence.
12.1.5 In a letter dated 19th, April 2007 the Solicitor Genral replied stating that the issue of the trading license was non material and the entity should ask Motorcare (U) Ltd to furnish a proper trading license. (Appendix30)
12.1.6 Investigations have established that in a letter dated 20th April 2007 the Evaluation Committee requested Motor care (U) Ltd to submit a valid trading license. (Appendix31)
12.1.7 In a letter dated 25th, April 2007 the Executive Director of the PPDA wrote to the Permanent Secretary MWT and stated among other things "that in the present situation unless the facts are shown to be otherwise, failure by a bidder to submit a valid trading license would amount to a a material deviation which cannot be corrected by the Evaluation Committee and thus such a bidder should not be subjected to further evaluation" (Appendix 32)
NB/ It is important to note that at this stage the PDU ignored the advise of the PPDA Authority and went ahead with the advise of the Solicitor General.
12.1.8 The Inspectorate of Government wrote to Motorcare on the 21st of April 2011 and requested them to furnish among other things an original dealership agreement with BMW. (Appendix33)
12.1.9 In a response dated May 3rd, 2011 Motorcare asserted that they got the dealership with BMW IN 2006. (Appendix 34),
12.1.10 A perusal of the document Motorcare furnished as a dealership agreement between them and BMW shows that the document is not signed and the dealer contract is between Motorcare (U) Ltd and AES Ltd of the United Kingdom. (Appendix35)
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12.1.11 Under Commercial Evaluation the Bidder was required to submit a Power of Attorney, Bid Security and a Delivery Schedule. The bidder complied with the requirements except that the Power of Attorney lacked the signature of the donor. This was resolved after the bidder submitted a duly signed Power of Attorney upon request by the Evaluation Committee and was recommended for 'Technical Evaluation.
12.1.12 Under the Technical evaluation the submission by the bidder complied
with the technical specifications for BMW R 1200 RT Motorcycle as per thesolicitation document.
12.3 Financial Comparison to rank the bids
Investigations established that since there was only one bid, there was no financial comparison done. The Evaluation Committee noted that the bidder had quoted a unit price of DDU Euros 28,603 (Delivery Duty Unpaid) which was far higher than DDU Euros 21,645 estimated in PP Form 20. (See Appendix36)
The Evaluation Committee recommended that the tender for supply of 80 BMW R 1200 RT motorcycles be awarded to M/s Motorcare Uganda Ltd and that a waiver be sought from PPDA to have negotiations with the bidder to have the unit price reduced from the offered Euros 28,603 which was inconsistent with the ' estimate of DDU Euros 21,645 as indicated in PP Form 20.
13.0 CONTRACTS COMMITTEE DECISION
13.1.1 During the 289th meeting held on 26th April 2007, the Contracts Committee granted permission for negotiations with M/s Motorcare Uganda Ltd for a possible reduction of the unit price from Euros 28,606 to Euros 21,645 in accordance with Reg. 219 (4) and Reg. 166 (4) of the PPDA Regulations, 2003.
13.1.2 Records indicate that Negotiations took place on the 8th and 9th of May 2007 under the Chairmanship of Amb. Mugoya. They were immediately followed by a PPDA waiver for negotiations on the price.
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NB:/f must be noted that the waiver from PPDA came long after the negotiations had been concluded
13.1.3 During the negotiations, M/s Motorcare Uganda Ltd was only willing to reduce the unit price by Euros 700, thus reducing the price from Euros 28,603 to Euros 27,903, giving a quoted total sum of Euros 2,232,240 (Euros two million, two hundred thirty two thousand two hundred forty), which was still higher than the estimated cost as per PP Form 20.
14.0 CONTRACT AGREEMENT
14.1.1 On 12/06/2007, the Government of Uganda represented by MW&T signed a contract agreement with M/s Motorcare Uganda Ltd for supply of 80 BMW R 1200 RT Police Outrider Motorcycles at a sum of Euros 2,232,240. (See Appendix 37)
15.0 SPECIAL PROVISIONS UNDER THE CONTRACT AGREEMENT
15.1.1 Investigations established the contract agreement between the Government of Uganda and Motocare (U) Ltd provided for various inspections to be carried out as conditions to the agreement under Article 26 of the contract. Article 26.2 provided that "...all reasonable facilities and assistance, including access to drawings and production data, shall be furnished to the inspectors at no charge to the Procuring and Disposing Entity. "
15.1.2 Clause 26.3 provides that; *the Procuring and Disposing Entity or its designated representative shall be entitled to attend the tests and/or inspections, provided that the PDE bears all its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with such attendance......."
I5.1.3 Clause 26.4 provides that; "Whenever the provider is ready to carry out such tests and inspections, it shall give a reasonable advance notice, including the place and time, to the Procuring and Disposing Entity…”

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16.0 THE INSPECTION TRIP TO GERMANY
16.1.1 In fulfillment of the conditions of the contract mentioned above, an inspection visit was organized between 17th September 2007 and 21st September 2007 to Germany arranged by the Motorcare (U) Ltd in conjunction with BMW division for ' sales in Africa and Caribbean region. The purpose was to inspect and verify the production of the 144 BMW vehicles and 80 BMW 1200RT Outrider motorcycles for CHOGM 2007 in accordance with the agreement.
16.1.2 Investigations established that the inspection team was comprised of Eng. George William Okurut, the Chief Mechanical Engineer MOWT, Mr. Albert Akovuku, Chief Transport Officer, State House and Mr. John Ndugutse, Assistant Superintendent of Police, UPF.
16.1.3 It has been established that the inspection team did not inspect any of the Motorcycles or vehicles that they had gone to see.
16.1.4 The inspection visit report by the Chief Mechanical Engineer dated 5th October 2007 indicated that they did not inspect the production line of the BMW 1200RT Motorcycles because production had been completed and the units were enroute to Uganda via Vatry Airport in France; although there was no documentary evidence provided to the team. The units had been manufactured prior to the arrival of the delegation in Germany.
16.1. 5 Evidence on record shows that Mr. Moses Banturaki, the Sales Manager of Motor care was responsible for arranging the trip to Germany. The team traveled with an understanding that they would be able to inspect the motorcycles and vehicles according to the scheduled plan. (See Appendix 39).
16.1.6 Eng. Okurut the chief Mechanical Engineer of MW&T who led the team stated that they were not even availed the production data and transportation details (port and date of embarkation, mode and dates of departure and destination) as per conditions of the contract.
16.1.7 It is important to note at this point there was a breach of the terms of Article 26 of the Contract Agreement by Motorcare Uganda Ltd who arranged the trip well aware that the vehicles and motorcycles had already been dispatched to Uganda. The expense of Shs. 14,607,000= which government incurred of the aborted trip was a loss that was occasioned by the deliberate actions of Motorcare (U) Ltd.
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17.0 OPENING LETTER OF CREDIT
17.1.1 On 13/06/2007, the Permanent Secretary MW&T applied to Bank of Uganda for an irrevocable letter of credit in favour of M/s Motorcare Uganda Ltd for supply of 80 R1200RT BMW Police Outrider motorcycles at Euros 2,232,240. (See Appendix 35)
17.1.2 On 19/06/2007, Bank of Uganda opened an Irrevocable Letter of Credit No. LC 2007/40 with DEUTSCHE BANK AG, FRANKFURT AM MAIN for Euros 2,232,240 as the intermediary bank through which payments would be effected to the supplier. The supplier's bank was then indicated as STANBIC BANK UGANDA 17
"hannihngton road, crested towers but this was later changed to
NORDEA BANK, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK. (SeeAppendix38)
17.1.3 Information obtained from the department of Settlements and Payments, Bank of Uganda indicated that at the time of issue of the Letter of Credit on 19/06/2007, the Exchange Rate was UGX 2,213.61/= for one Euro and that a total of Shs.4,941,308,786/= was paid to the supplier plus commission of 1% of Shs.49,413,088/= to the clearing bank, giving a total of Shs.4,990,721,874/=.
18.0 DELIVERY OF THE MOTOR CYCLES
18.1.1 Information obtained from Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Customs at Entebbe
•Airport indicated that the 80 motorcycles were delivered in eight batches. Customs Officers who cleared motorcycles on arrival for assessment of taxes, indicated the following anomalies:
• The motorcycles were delivered fully assembled and ready to ride. The contract stated that they were to be assembled in Uganda
• They were brought with airway bills only and without invoices.
• They did not have any label as to the country of origin and year of manufacture except that the issuing carrier's agent was based in Denmark.
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That invoices bearing Motorcare (U) Ltd were brought later after the motorcycles had been handed over to police.
NB: It is important to note that according to customs officials interviewed, this is not the normal way the imports transaction should be presented for clearance. Each batch is supposed to have three airway bills, invoices from the . Manufacturer, packing list, labels as to country of origin, and year of manufacture.


18.1.2 The Investigation team retrieved a number of documents from Motorcare (U) Ltd among which were invoices originated by KJEAR GROUP of GRONNEMOSEVEJ 6 P. 0. BOX 260 DK-5700 SVENDBORG, DENMARK to M/S Motorcare Uganda Ltd of P. 0. Box 12704, Plot 95, Jinja Road, Kampala. (See Appendix 40)
18.1.3 According to prices indicated on the invoices, Kjaer Group charged Motorcare Uganda Ltd Euros 21,160 per motorcycle. The invoices also included a fixed charge for Air freight and Transport Insurance of Euros 1,231 for each of the eight batches thus totaling to Euros 9,848 for transportation and insurance.

18.1.4 M/S Motor care Uganda Ltd in turn prepared its own invoices to Ministry of

Works and Transport and charged each motorcycle Euros 27,903. This
transaction indicates that M/S Motorcare (U) Ltd made a difference of Euros• 6,743 per motorcycle leading to a total Euros 539,440 for the whole supply of 80motorcycles. (See Appendix 41) .

18.1.5 Information obtained from BMW Germany by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Uganda indicate that when M/s Motorcare worn the tender to supply the motorcycles in June 2007for CHOGM, an order was reportedly made with BMW Germany to supply the motorcycles.
18.1.6 The order was guaranteed by Kjear Group through an irrevocable letter of credit and integrated into the running production process in August/September 2007. Due to pressure arising from the scheduled CHOGM conference in November 2007, the motorcycles were delivered to Vatry Airport in France from where '^ii-~ Kjear Group supervised the transportation up to Kampala. That BMW Germany confirmed that the motorcycles were sold at market price, (the "market price" was not disclosed}. (See Appendix 42)

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18.1.7 It was established that government's estimation of Euros 21,645 per motorcycle, was within the range at which M/s Kjear Group invoiced (Euros 21,160) Motorcare (U) Ltd. The charge of Euros 27,903 per unit cost put the cost of the contract higher than the funds previously indicated in PP Form 20.
18.1.8 it was further established that M/S Motorcare (U) Ltd and Kjaer Group acted as middlemen between Uganda Government and BMW Germany. The contract to supply motorcycles did not provide for such intermediaries. The overcharge was therefore borne by Uganda government.
19.0 The Inspectorate of Government requested the Permanent Secretary in the MOWT to cause an inspection to be carried out to assess the existence and the conditions in which the 80 BMW Outrider Motorcycles were in.
19.1. l Accordingly, an inspection was carried out by the Chief mechanical Engineer -of the MOWT. In his report to the Inspectorate of Government dated26th, April, 2011, the Chief Mechanical Engineer stated as follows; "Out of the 8OBMW Motorcycles, only 78 were available for inspection. The other 2 were reported in the field. Of the SO MOTORCYCLES 48 were found in sound functional condition. 32 were non functional requiring various levels of repair intervention”
20.0 M/S MOTORCARE fin LTD
20.1.1 Investigations have established that originally Motorcare (U) Ltd was called M/S NISSAN UGANDA LTD a company incorporated on 22nd June 1994 with shareholders as Kjear & Kjear (80 Shares) and Emmanuel Katto (2O Shares).
20.1.2 On 15th December 1995, the name was changed from M/S NISSAN Uganda LIMITED to M/S NIS (U) LIMITED and on 12th February 2001, the name changed to MOTORCARE UGANDA LIMITED with M/S Kjear Group as the sole shareholder. The directors were Pier Lindgren and Flemming Eltang both Danish and Christos Kyriakidis a Greek.
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20.1.3 On the 13th of Octorber 2010 the Inspectorate of Government wrote to the General Manager of Motorcare (U) Ltd Mr. Lars Bjere and requested him to provide the investigation team with production data and documents related to the supply of the 80 Motorcycles including a purchase order form placed by Motorcare to the manufactuere, Telegraphic transfer payment documents and acknowledgment receipts from the manufacturer.
20.1.4 On the 18th Of Octorber Mr. Bjere replied furnishing an incomplete list of documents.
20.1.5 On 26/10/2010 the Investigation team issued a notice requiring Mr. Bjere to comply with the earlier request pursuant to Section 41 1) e) of the Anti Corruption Act 2009. However to date Motorcare has not complied.
NB: It must be noted that at the time the documents specified above were crucial in verifying the origin and type and costs of the Motorcycles that the Uganda Government had procured.
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20.0 OBSERVATIONS
Whether the 80 BMW R1200RT Police Outrider Motorcycles were irregularly procured without due regard to the public procurement procedures and regulations.
20.1.1 A cardinal principle under the procurement laws in Uganda is that all procurements are carried out to maximize competition and achieve value for money. Section 46 of the PPDA Act provides thus " Subject to this Act, all procurements shall be conducted in a manner to maximize competition and achieve value for money"
20.1.2 Public Procurement Processes are defined under the PPDA Act and Regulations 2003 and the roles are clearly spelt out therein. In the CHOGM procurement there was no clarity on the roles of the various players in the procurement of the Motorcycles, that is the Transport Sub Committee, the National Task force, Cabinet Sub Committee and individual Ministers. As a result of this, the procurement process for the BMW Outrider motorcycles was marred with '-'••' instances of contravention of the Public Procurement laws.
20.1.3 The role played by the Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs in soliciting for proposals was beyond his responsibility as a Minister. Though preparations for CHOGM fell under his Ministry, as a Minister, he had no role in identifying service providers, let alone, writing to the companies inviting them to express their interests in supplying the vehicles and opening the proposals. He took over the roles of the Accounting Officer and the Contracts Committee.
20.1.4 Evidence on record shows that, The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Sam Kuteesa who was a member of the Cabinet Sub-Committee wrote inviting Motor care (u) Ltd (the eventual winner) to bid in the tender to supply vehicles for the CHOGM conference. He then presented Motor care's proposal to the Ministry of Works and transport to be included in the tendering process.
2O.1.5 Hon Kuteesa had in an earlier letter to the IGG denied writing to the service providers .In a recent communication to the AG.IGG he accepted that he had written but asserted that he was simply communicating a change of policy to those companies to find out if they were willing to participate in the process. The
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20.0 OBSERVATIONS
Whether the 80 BMW R1200RT Police Outrider Motorcycles were irregularly procured without due regard to the public procurement procedures and regulations.
20.1.1 A cardinal principle under the procurement laws in Uganda is that all procurements are carried out to maximize competition and achieve value for money. Section 46 of the PPDA Act provides thus “Subject to this Act, all procurements shall be conducted in a manner to maximize competition and achieve value for money"
20.1.2 Public Procurement Processes are defined under the PPDA Act and Regulations 2003 and the roles are clearly spelt out therein. In the CHOGM procurement there was no clarity on the roles of the various players in the procurement of the Motorcycles, that is the Transport Sub Committee, the National Task force, Cabinet Sub Committee and individual Ministers. As a result of this, the procurement process for the BMW Outrider motorcycles was marred with instances of contravention of the Public Procurement laws.
20.1.3 The role played by the Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs in soliciting for proposals was beyond his responsibility as a Minister. Though preparations for CHOGM fell under his Ministry, as a Minister, he had no role in identifying service providers, let alone, writing to the companies inviting them to express their interests in supplying the vehicles and opening the proposals. He took over the roles of the Accounting Officer and the Contracts Committee.
20.1.4 Evidence on record shows that, The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Sam Kuteesa who was a member of the Cabinet Sub-Committee wrote inviting Motor care (u) Ltd (the eventual winner) to bid in the tender to supply vehicles for the CHOGM conference. He then presented Motor care's proposal to the Ministry of Works and transport to be included in the tendering process.
20.1.5 Hon Kuteesa had in an earlier letter to the IGG denied writing to the service providers .In a recent communication to the AG.IGG he accepted that he had written but asserted that he was simply communicating a change of policy to those companies to find out if they were willing to participate in the process. The inconsistencies in Hon Kuteesa's statements casts doubt on his credibility in the entire matter.

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20.1.6 Regulation F-B 3 c) of Chapter 1 of the Uganda Government Standing Orders provides that "a Permanent Secretary is the supervisor under a Minister of a Ministry and among other things his or her functions include the implementation of Government Policy
20.1.7 In directly soliciting for bids with the companies, the Hon. Minister not only acted as if he was a Permanent Secretary but he also communicated to the service providers as if he was the PDU of MWT.
20.1.8 The Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on CHOGM H.E The Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya affirmed that the decision to procure from Motorcare (U) Ltd was final and that no other bidder should be allowed to submit a proposal.
20.1.9 Prof Gilbert Bukenya assumed the role of the Contracts Committee of the Ministry of Works when he confirmed that the award of the tender to Motorcare (U) Ltd would be final.
20.1.10 The PPDA Act provides guidance on the definition of a procuring and disposing unit. Section 3 of the PPDA Act provides that a procurement and disposal unit is "a division in each procuring and disposing entity responsible for the execution of the procuring and disposal function"
The duty to execute and manage the procurement process was therefore a preserve of the PDU, of Ministry of Works and Transport and not the Cabinet Sub - Committee.
20.1.11 The actions of the two senior government officials not only contravened the PPDA Act but also led the Government of Uganda to deal with a company which at the time did not have any dealership with BMW Germany.
20.1.12 At the time BMW dealers were shortlisted, Motorcare (U) Ltd did not have a dealership agreement with BMW. The fact that it was included as a BMW dealer on the short list raises fundamental questions about the transparency of this procurement. The dealer contract that Motorcare furnished the Inspectorate is not an authentic document as it was not signed by any party. Secondly the dealer contract is between Motorcare and AES Ltd not BMW.
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20.1.13 Further more, Motor care (U) ltd should have been rejected at the
preliminary evaluation stage when they failed to present a valid trading license.
20.1.14 The advise given by Mr. Edgar Agaba of PPDA Authority to the Permanent Secretary was in accordance with the functions of the Authority as provided for under the Act. For avoidance of doubt Section 7(a) of the PPDA Act 2003 provides as follows;
" The functions of the Authority are to advise Central Government, Local Government and statutory bodies on all public procurement and disposal policies, principles and practices"
21.0 It was therefore also erroneous for the Evaluation Committee to seek the guidance of the Solicitor General on this matter instead of the PPDA Authority. All these actions appear to have been done to push Motor care's bid through at all costs.
22.0 Whether there was loss of government funds.
22.1.1 The contract agreement signed between the Government of Uganda and Motorcare (U) Ltd provided that the motor cycles would be inspected at the production stage by the procuring entity before shipment. The Ministry officials who went to Germany to inspect the production of the motor cycles did not see the units as they had already been shipped. Motorcare (U) Ltd further omitted to provide the inspection team with production data which was also a condition in the contract.
22.1.2 There was therefore no value for money in the inspection visit to Germany. The fact that the Motorcycles to be inspected had left the production line and would not be verified was known by Motocare (U) Ltd before the travel to Munich. They should have disclosed the same to the MOWT as good practice so that the Procurement entity could make an informed decision whether to go or not. As a result of the futile trip the Government of Uganda suffered a financial loss of Shs. 14,607,000=
22.1.3 Further more the fact that the Government of Uganda dealt with Motor care (U) Ltd meant that the Government incurred additional costs as a result of the
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21.1.2 For avoidance of doubt Section 41 1) e) provides that "//? the course of an investigation or proceedings into or relating to an offence by any person employed by any public body under this Act, the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Inspector General of Government may not withstanding anything in any other written law to the contrary by written notice require the Minister responsible for any department^ office or establishment of the Government or the President, Chairperson, manager or Chief executive officer of any public body or the secretary, manager or principal officer of any company or association or body of persons whether incorporated or not, or a partner in any partnership to produce or furnish , as specified in the notice, any document or certified copy of any document which is in his or her possession or his or her control"
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22.0 CONCLUSION
22.1.1 The Government of Uganda did not get value for money in the procurement of motorcycles. The entire procurement process was a sham and Motorcare (U) Ltd was guided throughout the entire process to become the eventual winner of the tender.
22.1.2 Motorcare (U) Ltd breached the terms of the contract and caused the Government of Uganda to incur a financial loss sh 14,607,000 in the costs of sending an inspection team to Germany well knowing that the vehicles had already been shipped contrary to Section 20 (1) of the Anti Corruption Act 2009.
22.1.3 Motorcare's action of presenting themselves as dealers of BMW caused the Government of Uganda to incur an extra 539,440 Euros in additional costs for the Motorcycle's which could have been avoided if the Government had dealt directly with Kjaer Group Denmark. They performed these actions contrary to Section 20 (1) of the Anti Corruption Act 2009.
22.1.4 For avoidance of doubt, Section 20 (1) of the Anti Corruption Act 2009 establishes the offence of causing financial loss. It provides thus "Any person employed by the Government, a bank, a credit institution, an insurance company or public body, who in the performance of his or her duties, does any act or omits to do any act knowing or having reason to believe that such act or omission will cause financial loss to the Government, bank, credit institution, insurance company, public body or customer of a bank or credit institution commits the offence of causing financial loss"
22.1.5 The tendering process for the BMW Outrider motorcycles was riddled with influence peddling, and high handedness of officials within the Cabinet Sub Committee who pre-planned and orchestrated the procurement that resulted in Motorcare (U) Ltd as the eventual winner of the bid.
22.1.6 The contradictory statements made by the officials of Mashariki point to the fact that there were some underhand events that could have caused the withdrawal of Mashariki from the procurement process to leave only Motorca're as a sole bidder.

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22.1.7The Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Sam Kuteesa who was a member of the Cabinet Sub Committee in abuse of his office and authority presented Motor care (U) Ltd to be considered as a bidder in the aforementioned tender. His actions contravened the PPDA Act and were therefore arbitrary and prejudicial to the interests of the Government of Uganda contrary to Section 11 (1) of the Anti Corruption Act.
22.1.8 The Vice President, Prof Gilbert Bukenya in abuse of his office and authority arbitrarily usurped the role of the Contracts Committee of the Ministry of works in affirming Motor care (U) Ltd as a sole bidder. His actions were also prejudicial to the interests of the Government of Uganda contrary to Section 11 (1) of the Anti Corruption Act.
22.1.9 For the avoidance of doubt, Section 11 (1) of the Anti Corruption Act establishes the offence of Abuse of office. It provides that "A person who, being employed in a public body or a company in which the Government has shares, does or directs to be done an arbitrary act prejudicial to the interests of his or her employer or of any other person, in abuse of the authority of his or her office, commits an offence..
22.1.10 Mr. Lars Bjerre of Motorcare (U) Ltd without reasonable excuse refused to comply with the directions given by the IGG to produce documents required by the Inspectorate for evidential purposes. In so doing he contravened Section 35 c) of the Inspectorate of Government Act.
22.1.11 Section 35c) of the Inspectorate of Government Act provides that ">l person who without reasonable excuse refuses or fails to comply with any order or direction of the Inspectorate; or commits an offence"
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21.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
21.1.1 Prof Gilbert Bukenya and Hon Sam Kuteesa should be prosecuted for Abuse of office in accordance with Section 11 of the Anti Corruption Act 2009.
21.1.2 Motor care (U) Ltd should be prosecuted for causing financial loss contrary to Section 20 1) of the Anti Corruption Act.
21.1.3 Mr. Lars Bjere of Motorcare (U) Ltd should be prosecuted for refusal or failure to comply with the directions of the Inspectorate of Government contrary to Section 35 c) of the Inspectorate of Government Act.
21.1.4 Motorcare (U) Ltd should be blacklisted and should not transact with the Government of Uganda for a period of 10 years.
INPECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT
MAY 2011
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Posted by Chris Obore at 09:42