Picfare explains book supply to Burundi

By Henry Sekanjako 

 

Picfare Industries Ltd, a private company that was contracted to deliver scholastic materials to Burundi has distanced itself from the loss of over sh32b incurred by Uganda saying it has been delivering all the required scholastic materials.

 

The government of Burundi authorized Uganda to pay the monies to Picfare industries having contacted Picfare to supply scholastic materials for the period 2005 t0 2016.

 

The money owed to Burundi was US$13m. All these monies were paid by ministry of finance through Picfare industries which was to supply scholastic materials to Burundi as per their arrangement with the Burundian government.

 

However, the scholastic materials which were exported to Burundi by Picfare industries are said to be worth only US$3.5 Million.

 

Appearing before the parliament’s committee on Public accounts on Friday, the managing director Picfare Industries Ltd Mitul Jobanputra said in 2005 Picfare approached the government of Burundi with a proposal to supply scholastic materials which he says were required to improve education across Burundi following the end of the Burundi war.

 

“In this connection, Picfare issued export Pro-forma invoice .The same Proforma Invoice was forwarded by government of Burundi to government of Uganda culminating into the letter from ministry of Finance and economic development dated October 21 2005,” he explained.

 

He further told the committee that all the monies were credited into the Picfare United states dollars (USD) account No 02501007274 operated with bank of Baroda Uganda Ltd which copies of transaction he provided to the committee.

 

“Supplies have been made and they are still going on .The government of Burundi is not complaining at all. About 10 trucks of scholastic materials are now on their way to Burundi,” he said.

 

To prove that Burundi has been receiving the supplies, Jobanptura provided the committee with copy of a press statement from the Republic of Burundi in Kampala that was issued in the press saying Picfare has since 2005 been  supplying scholastics materials to date.

 

Picfare also provided the committee with copies of two agreements signed between government of Burundi and Picfare, certificate of incorporation for the picfare industries, Picfare’s profile.

 

However the committee chaired by Terego county MP Kasiano Wadri asked the management of picfare to provide them with copies of the invoices, ledge accounts books showing how goods were delivered and the acknowledgment letters from the recipient of the goods.

 

Picfare is expected to re-appear before the committee today with the required documents.