Driving permits issuance firm under probe

MPs on Thursday resolved to carry out an investigation into circumstances under which a private company continues to be in charge of issuing driving permits.

The House infrastructure committee was shocked to learn that the contract for Face Technologies, the company issuing the permits, has been extended to 2020.

The company was initially given the contract in December 2003 on an understanding that it was supposed to operate for 2 years as the ministry of works and transport develops capacity to do it on its own.

Works minister John Byabagambi explained that the company takes sh60,000 for every permit issued and the balance of the about sh300,000 charged goes to government.

Byabagambi said although they now have the capacity to do the work, they had to extend the contract to enable the company recover its investments.

MPs Patrick Amuriat, Elijah Okupa and Samuel Ssemugabi said contracting Face Technologies to do work the ministry can do has made the cost of acquiring a permit the highest in the region.