By Steven Candia

THE procurement body, PPDA, has launched investigations into the botched National Housing and Construction Company (NHCC) multi-billion stone quarry procurement deal.

The probe was contained in a letter of February 23 addressed to the National Housing accounting officer.

“In accordance with Section 8 (c) of the PPDA Act 2003, the authority would like to review the procurement process of the tender,” reads the letter signed by Edgar Agaba.

Following the development, investigators from PPDA were expected to visit the National Housing head offices on February 24 to access the procurement action file.

The file was to contain documents such as the invitation for bids, record of issue and receipt of bids, copy of the bid opening and documents issued to bidders, proposals submitted, forms related to the procurement, the evaluation report and minutes of the contracts committee.

When contacted over the matter on Friday, PPDA spokesperson Dorah Egunyu could not readily comment as to whether investigators visited the National Housing offices.

“I still have to crosscheck and then I will get back to you,” she said.

However, other sources said an investigator from the PPDA visited the company on February 24 but did not find the file ready and returned two days later for it.

Sources said the team will study the file before fixing a date with National Housing officials for interrogation and compile a report.

“We don’t have the powers to prosecute but we will make recommendations on the matter,” Egunyu said.

The investigation comes hot on the heels of a probe launched by the Inspectorate of Government into the matter late last year.

Sources said a similar probe had also been instituted by the Auditor General.

The purchase of the stone quarry hit a dead end mid last year following sharp disagreements between the chief executive officer, Joseph Kitamirike, who is the accounting officer, and the tender committee.

Kitamirike, who is accused of conflict of interest, refused to award the contract to businessman Henry Kaggwa, the best bidder, and instead defended North Star Quarries, which quoted three times more.

The committee recommended that the award goes to Kaggwa, who quoted sh2b for a 25-year lease of 35 acres. North Star Quarries, the runner-up, quoted sh7b for purchase of eight acres.

Eight companies and individuals sent in bids but the procurement collapsed after two years due to wrangling.

National Housing, in which Libya has a 49% stake, in 2007 decided to acquire a stone quarry to increase its construction capacity and cut costs.