Parliament halts deal of 2,000 motorbikes for LCs

Parliament. Parliament on Wednesday directed the Ministry of Local Government to halt the ongoing procurement of 2,000 motorcycles for chairpersons of town councils, sub-counties and municipal divisions until an explanation on alleged fraud in the process is brought to the House.
The directive by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga followed a concern raised by Masaka Municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga, who said he had been petitioned by the local companies who alleged that they were knocked out of the bidding process due to stringent requirements calculated to discriminate them.

The ministry wants to procure the motorcycles expected to cost between Shs25b and Shs35b to ease transport of lower local government leaders.
Mr Mpuuga said the bidders are not happy with the condition in the bid advert issued early this year requiring any eligible bidder to have experience of 10 years of handling a procurement of similar size.

“The local bidders petitioned Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) and they were ignored. They are alleging that the ministry is targeting some briefcase company to kick them out,” Mr Mpuuga stated.
“I pray Parliament halts this procurement which is entirely against local content. The minister should come here and explain,” he added.
Neither Local Government minister Tom Butime nor his junior minister Jenipher Namuyangu were in the House.

Speaker Kadaga directed the clerk to the Ministry of Local Government to halt the procurement with immediate effect and direct the minister to bring an explanation to the House at the start of the 4th session after the Budget reading mid next month.
“I don’t know any company that has a 10 year experience (in procuring motorcycles for government). This is our taxpayers’ money and Ugandans have the first opportunity. The minister is directed to halt this procurement and come here early next session to explain,” Ms Kadaga said.

Response
However, minister Butime slammed the directive when contacted, saying the procurement of motorcycles is not a matter for Parliament to handle but PPDA.
“Is that her (Speaker Kadaga’s) business? I was not in Parliament but I thought that was a PPDA matter. So, I have no comment, really,” he said.
This newspaper understands that some of the local suppliers who were dissatisfied with the bidding requirements petitioned the Speaker of Parliament in January seeking Parliament intervention.
The petitioners complained that the Shs250m bidding security was too high especially with the requirement that the winner would have to forfeit it for at least six months.
They also complained that the 15 day bidding period was too short for them to prepare the bidding documents.

About new districts

Meanwhile, the minister of Local Government, Col Tom Butime, yesterday told Parliament that a Cabinet sub-committee chaired by 1st Deputy Prime Minister Moses Ali has been set up to study the issues surrounding the operationalisation of new districts, sub-counties and town councils.
“The committee will have rigorous meeting chaired by the 1st Deputy Prime Minister, attended by Ministry of Local Government, and Ministry of Finance to harmonise the issues of operationalising the new administrative units” he said.
Earlier, he has blamed the delay in conducting elections in new districts on the Ministry of Finance that is not releasing the requisite funds.

Last month, Electoral Commission spokesperson Jotham Taremwa told this newspaper that the Commission wants Shs3.5b to conduct elections of Woman MPs, LC5s and leaders of other local governments in the six districts that started July 1,2018.
The districts that are yet to elect their leaders are; Nabilatuk, Bugweri, Kassanda, Kwania, Kapelebyong and Kikuube. Hoima District has also for nearly eight months been without a Woman MP after Ms Tophace Kaahwa opted to represent Kikuube carved out of Hoima.

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