Mercy Nalugo
14 April 2011
Parliament yesterday questioned the manner under which a Chinese construction firm won a contract for the new Kampala-Entebbe highway, saying bidding procedures were not followed.
It emerged yesterday that government hand-picked a Chinese firm, China Communications Construction Company Limited, to build the Kampala-Entebbe express way without following the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets procedures.
The matter came up during a meeting between the parliamentary Committee on National Economy and works minister John Nasasira, who is seeking authority to borrow $350m (about Shs805b) from the Export-Import Bank of China to finance the project.
Tororo County MP Geoffrey Ekanya questioned the manner in which the government picked the Chinese firm without going through a competitive bidding process that would allow other companies to compete.
The State Minister for Investments, Mr Aston Kajara, who accompanied Minister Nasasira, had earlier submitted that the Uganda National Roads Authority had concluded the works contract with the Chinese contractor.
Mr Ekanya was backed by Rubanda West legislator Henry Banyenzaki who insisted that such companies be subjected to competition. Mr Nasasira said the government had to abide by the Chinese loan conditions.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Taken from:
MPs Query Sh805 Billion Entebbe Road Deal