Bidandi nullifies Basajjabalaba’s Owino deal
Dec 01, 2002
LOCAL government minister Bidandi Ssali has declared null and void the tender to manage St. Balikuddembe (former Owino) and Nakasero markets which the Kampala City Council (KCC) last week awarded to companies owned by city tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba
By Raymond Mikah
LOCAL government minister Bidandi Ssali has declared null and void the tender to manage St. Balikuddembe (former Owino) and Nakasero markets which the Kampala City Council (KCC) last week awarded to companies owned by city tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba.
Victoria International Trading Company won the tender for Owino while Sheila Investment won that Nakasero market.
“The tenders were nullified in accordance with the law. According to the law and according to me as the Minister of Local Government, the tenders are null and void,†Bidandi Ssali told The New Vision yesterday.
“What they did was a nullity. But matters are now beyond me. It is not me to handle the matter. It is the Attorney General and the Solicitor General to act,†Bidandi added. “I do not know how the AG is going to handle the matter.â€
Bidandi, speaking at a party for the Star FM fans at Marvin Hotel in Natete on Saturday, said he has the power to revoke any controversial tendering process, which is likely to bring problems to stakeholders in future.
He said he would sue KCC and the tender board for breaking the law and defying him.
Bidandi, from the onset, opposed the awarding of the tenders to the two companies, saying the vendors should have a stake in the markets’ management.
“Just like any government minister, I have powers to intervene in a process likely to cause problems,†he said.
“KCC went ahead to give tenders to the same people when they knew that one company awarded the tender is not registered. It’s against the law for one company to win two tenders,†Bidandi said.
He said the award of the markets to private control would cost the traders ownership.
He said the agreement government signed for the redevelopment of Owino market allowed traders to have ownership of the stalls and the changes were likely to affect that arrangement.
He said the owners of the stalls wrote to him recently, saying they had not received copies of the agreement.
“I have fought for Owino since it was full of mud and women used to put their tomatoes on mud and traders were crying for help. I can’t leave them now,†he added.
Bidandi said he received a letter from KCC tender committee chairman saying the process was not well discussed.
He also reportedly said the registrar of companies wrote to him saying the serial numbers were not the same.
“I also have information that there was exchange of money,†he said, “But KCC accuses me of having personal grudges against Basajabalaba,†he said.
LOCAL government minister Bidandi Ssali has declared null and void the tender to manage St. Balikuddembe (former Owino) and Nakasero markets which the Kampala City Council (KCC) last week awarded to companies owned by city tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba.
Victoria International Trading Company won the tender for Owino while Sheila Investment won that Nakasero market.
“The tenders were nullified in accordance with the law. According to the law and according to me as the Minister of Local Government, the tenders are null and void,†Bidandi Ssali told The New Vision yesterday.
“What they did was a nullity. But matters are now beyond me. It is not me to handle the matter. It is the Attorney General and the Solicitor General to act,†Bidandi added. “I do not know how the AG is going to handle the matter.â€
Bidandi, speaking at a party for the Star FM fans at Marvin Hotel in Natete on Saturday, said he has the power to revoke any controversial tendering process, which is likely to bring problems to stakeholders in future.
He said he would sue KCC and the tender board for breaking the law and defying him.
Bidandi, from the onset, opposed the awarding of the tenders to the two companies, saying the vendors should have a stake in the markets’ management.
“Just like any government minister, I have powers to intervene in a process likely to cause problems,†he said.
“KCC went ahead to give tenders to the same people when they knew that one company awarded the tender is not registered. It’s against the law for one company to win two tenders,†Bidandi said.
He said the award of the markets to private control would cost the traders ownership.
He said the agreement government signed for the redevelopment of Owino market allowed traders to have ownership of the stalls and the changes were likely to affect that arrangement.
He said the owners of the stalls wrote to him recently, saying they had not received copies of the agreement.
“I have fought for Owino since it was full of mud and women used to put their tomatoes on mud and traders were crying for help. I can’t leave them now,†he added.
Bidandi said he received a letter from KCC tender committee chairman saying the process was not well discussed.
He also reportedly said the registrar of companies wrote to him saying the serial numbers were not the same.
“I also have information that there was exchange of money,†he said, “But KCC accuses me of having personal grudges against Basajabalaba,†he said.