By Henry Sekanjako
The Parliament's committee on Public service and Local government has launched investigations into the validity of Pioneer Easy bus contract to operate bus services in the Kampala Metropolitan area.
This follows a petition to Parliament by leaders of Mukono and Wakiso districts seeking Parliament's intervention to inquire the legality of the agreement appointing pioneer Easy bus as agent to operate the bus services in the Kampala metropolitan area by Kampala Capital city Authority (KCCA).
The petitioner's mainly local leaders from Mukono and Wakiso district cited influence from some of government officials in the award of the contract without competitive bidding and advertisement.
"The petitioners have a reason to suspect fraud, nepotism, abuse of office and corruption in these transactions since the memorandum and articles of association of pioneer bus shows that the same is owned by individuals and companies cited in dubious deals some of which are under investigations by Parliament in the oil sector," said Betty Nambooze (Mukono Municipality).
The petitioners alleged that government financed Pioneer easy bus company with a loan of unspecified amount of money to acquire the over 500 buses.
Pioneer Easy Bus company has invested over sh23 billion ($10 million) in a fleet of 522 modern buses that will operate in the Kampala District.
Speaking during a meeting with the petitioners on Tuesday at Parliament, committee chairperson Florence Kintu also Kalungu district woman MP said the committee had given Easy bus up to Friday to avail them all with documentary evidence showing details of their contract with KCCA to operate bus service in Kampala metropolitan area.
"I have instructed the clerk to this committee together with the shadow minister for public service Roland Mugume to make sure that we get easy bus contract documents by latest Friday," She said.
Kintu added that; "we want to find out whether their contract is valid or not if it is valid we have no problem with them. All we want is to harmonize KCCA with the stakeholders".
She noted that the committee would like to know the directors of the easy bus company to ensure quality service delivery in the public transport sector.
