By Herbert Ssempogo

A Dubai-based company, Dodsal Infrastructure Development, has applied for a concession to run the Entebbe International Airport.

Consequently, a technical committee, led by the finance ministry, has been set up to scrutinise the proposal.

Dodsal Infrastructure Development is registered in the British Virgin Islands, sources disclosed.

On its website, the group announced it was in the process of “entering” BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer) agreements for airports and aviation infrastructure in East African countries.

It has also financed and constructed pipelines for energy in India and Sudan.

The group’s representatives met with President Yoweri Museveni on June 6, according to works minister John Nasasira.

“Some investors came with a plan. They met with the President, who was of the view that their idea should be studied,” Nasasira said yesterday.

The Government’s technical team headed by the Privatisation Unit director, David Ssebabi, had two weeks from July 13, to assess the proposal, he added.

Other institutions represented on the committee are the works and transport and finance ministries, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Solicitor General’s office.

Nasasira described their plan as a “concession”, which would grant them permission to “run” the airport. “The Government cannot grant permission before thoroughly studying the proposal.”

It was not clear how much money the group wanted to inject into the facility that was refurbished during the 2007 Commonwealth Summit.