MPs query $7m loan
Apr 02, 2006
MPS on the national economy committee last week queried the Government’s proposal to spend a $7.8m loan on 21 road bridges in West Nile, barely a week after the finance minister, Dr. Ezra Suruma, presented the request for approval.
By Mary Karugaba
MPS on the national economy committee last week queried the Government’s proposal to spend a $7.8m loan on 21 road bridges in West Nile, barely a week after the finance minister, Dr. Ezra Suruma, presented the request for approval.
Scrutinising the loan request, the committee’s vice-chairperson Matsiko Kabakumba (right), said MPs were concerned that the money “was too much for the project’s first phase.â€
Although the committee welcomed the borrowing, members said they would not approve the loan before inspecting the proposed bridges to establish the actual cost.
Kabakumba said the committee would invite the two of finance ministry’s ministers and works minister John Nasasira to defend the funds.
“Members are concerned that the Government proposes to spend all that money on the project just on the first phase.
“We may not be engineers, but we need to know the type of bridges being constructed and rehabilitated.
“We want to inspect them and find out whether they are worth the money,†Kabakumba argued.
The Government intends to borrow $7m from the Arab Bank for Economy Development in Africa (ABEDA) for financing the construction and rehabilitation of road bridges in West Nile.
Suruma, in a brief to Parliament, said ABEDA had agreed to finance the upgrading of 44km stretch of Kafu-Masindi road to bituminous standard and also to finance the construction and rehabilitation of 21 road bridges in Arua and Nebbi.
Suruma requested MPs to pass the loan, saying it was aimed at contributing to the economic development of the country and eradicating poverty through improved national and district road network.
However, Kabakumba said the Government was spending money on bridges “only to demolish them after a few months during road constructions.â€
MPs also rejected the minister’s proposal to put the project under the Project Management Support Team saying, “We do not want the team to be like that of the Global Fund.â€
The legislators said the project should be put under the Road Agency Formation Unit (RAFU).
Guma Gumisiriza wondered whether the borrowing still fits within the borrowing cap envisaged for the financial year 2004/5 of about $200m per year. He said ministries borrowed loans which were not utilise.
Ends
MPS on the national economy committee last week queried the Government’s proposal to spend a $7.8m loan on 21 road bridges in West Nile, barely a week after the finance minister, Dr. Ezra Suruma, presented the request for approval.
Scrutinising the loan request, the committee’s vice-chairperson Matsiko Kabakumba (right), said MPs were concerned that the money “was too much for the project’s first phase.â€
Although the committee welcomed the borrowing, members said they would not approve the loan before inspecting the proposed bridges to establish the actual cost.
Kabakumba said the committee would invite the two of finance ministry’s ministers and works minister John Nasasira to defend the funds.
“Members are concerned that the Government proposes to spend all that money on the project just on the first phase.
“We may not be engineers, but we need to know the type of bridges being constructed and rehabilitated.
“We want to inspect them and find out whether they are worth the money,†Kabakumba argued.
The Government intends to borrow $7m from the Arab Bank for Economy Development in Africa (ABEDA) for financing the construction and rehabilitation of road bridges in West Nile.
Suruma, in a brief to Parliament, said ABEDA had agreed to finance the upgrading of 44km stretch of Kafu-Masindi road to bituminous standard and also to finance the construction and rehabilitation of 21 road bridges in Arua and Nebbi.
Suruma requested MPs to pass the loan, saying it was aimed at contributing to the economic development of the country and eradicating poverty through improved national and district road network.
However, Kabakumba said the Government was spending money on bridges “only to demolish them after a few months during road constructions.â€
MPs also rejected the minister’s proposal to put the project under the Project Management Support Team saying, “We do not want the team to be like that of the Global Fund.â€
The legislators said the project should be put under the Road Agency Formation Unit (RAFU).
Guma Gumisiriza wondered whether the borrowing still fits within the borrowing cap envisaged for the financial year 2004/5 of about $200m per year. He said ministries borrowed loans which were not utilise.
Ends