Kyambogo varsity officials on the spot over fraud

Kampala. Police have opened criminal investigations into allegations of conflict of interest and procurement fraud by Kyambogo University officials.

The inquiry is in response to a petition by a whistleblower who petitioned police Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) complaining that the cost of constructing a multibillion central lecture block at the university was inflated. It is alleged that the lecture block, which is still under construction, was estimated to cost Shs8 billion, but the budget was raised to Shs30 billion.

The investigations are aiming at holding Kyambogo University officials accountable in case they are found guilty of the offences.

The CID has since written to university administration requesting for key documents to aid their investigations.
“The directorate is carrying out investigations into the alleged conflict of interest and procurement fraud by officials of Kyambogo University on the construction of Central Lecture Block,” a letter dated December 14, signed by Mr Godfrey Emojong, the head of fraud in local governments, reads in part.

Mr Emojong signed the letter on behalf of the CID director, Ms Grace Akullo.

Among the documents police detectives want Kyambogo University top officials to provide to them include a list of approved contractors, all procurement documents, list of procurement and contracts committee, letters of award of contract, acceptance letter and the contract agreement, payment documents including certificate of works, requisitions, hand over report of the block after completion, architectural designs, approved plans and bills of quantity and any other document relevant to the investigations.

Mr Joses Tegyeza, the director of planning and development at Kyambogo University, yesterday confirmed receiving the CID letter, but declined to divulge details.
“It is true I received a letter from CID, but I am not authorised to speak to the media, may be talk to the vice chancellor,” he said.

However, the Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor, Prof Eli Katunguka, said people who petitioned CID are pushing for individual interests and are also bent on bringing him down as vice chancellor.

The vice chancellor said the lecture block being investigated is a project sanctioned by the university council. The four storied building when completed will comprise lecture theatres, computer rooms, conference facilities, meeting rooms and offices of some administrators.
“Even the said budget of Shs30b [for the building project] is not true. Kyambogo University in its history has never had a project with such huge budget. We estimate to spend something like Shs15.8b,” he said.

He said the university administration agreed to work on the project in phases and so far two floors have been completed, but not officially handed over to the university by the contractor.
“We expect the handover to take place in the first or second week of January. So after that, we will call for bidders to take on the next phase. However, the public should understand that we are working within the budget as approved by the university council,” Prof Katunguka said.

He added: “We opted to use the block due to lack of space during examination period. But this was done after seeking guidance and permission from the contractor.”